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LeBron James didn’t seem too worried about being a victim of load management.
The 41-year-old is in his 23rd NBA season and has taken quite a bit of time off over the past few years, and he’s hinted more of the same will happen.
Barely looking his age after posting 30 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in New Orleans on Tuesday night, James was asked about his potential readiness to play the following night in San Antonio.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) speaks to a reporter after the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. (Stephen Lew/Imagn Images)
“I’m 41. Every streak for the rest of the season is TBD,” James said. “I’m 41 years old. I’ve had the most minutes in NBA history. Bank it now. What are we talking about?”
Perhaps load management helps James beat Father Time, as he averages 21.7 points, 6.8 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Granted, his rebounds per game would be the lowest of his career and his points would be the second lowest of his career (better than his 2003-04 rookie season), but he is also the only player to ever participate in a 23rd NBA season.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James appears during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz on February 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, file)
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However, James has been on a roll lately, averaging 26.0 points since his 41st birthday on Dec. 30, including 31 and 30 in two of his last three games. For context, every other player in NBA history has averaged 5.3 points per game after turning 41, with the closest average being Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 10.4 in 78 games.
James missed the start of the season with sciatica and returned after 14 games. He started slowly, averaging 14.0 points per game and ending a streak of 1,297 games with at least 10 points (he got the assist on a buzzer-beater). In 12 games since the streak ended, he has averaged 25.6 points per game.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dunks during the second half of Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
It remains to be seen, better yet, “to be determined,” whether James will continue his hot streak on Wednesday.
