LeBron James is rewriting the playbook yet again. At 41 years old and in his unprecedented 23rd NBA season, James remains one of the league’s most productive players, yet the Los Angeles Lakers are now structuring much of their daily and weekly routine around preserving his body and maximizing his impact.
What once would have been unthinkable, altering foundational team practices for one player, has become the new normal for a franchise chasing both legacy and contention.
Head coach JJ Redick revealed that the Lakers quietly scrapped morning shootarounds on game days, a longtime NBA ritual, to keep James fresher for late afternoons and evenings.
“We made the decision 12-13 days ago that we weren’t gonna do shootaround in the mornings anymore,” Redick said, noting that having “a 41-year-old who shouldn’t be on his feet twice a day” was a major factor in the change.
James‘ status has been the central storyline for the Lakers‘ season. After missing the first 14 games with lower-body issues, he has not played in back-to-back games since returning, something unheard of for much of his career.
When asked about the uncertainty of his availability in consecutive contests, James answered bluntly: “Every back-to-back for the rest of the season is TBD. I am 41. I got the most minutes in NBA history, bank it right now,” he told reporters in early January.
That practicality cuts through the traditional competitive instinct of a superstar. James‘ career is defined by ironman durability and a relentless drive to play, but this season has exposed the reality that age can’t be entirely defied.
While he still impacts games, scoring efficiently and serving as a team leader, the Lakers‘ strategy reflects an emphasis on rest, recovery and long-term health planning.
Lakers balance ambition with caution
The decision to eliminate shootarounds speaks to a larger recalibration in Los Angeles.
With a grueling schedule, extensive travel, and a roster that still leans on James‘ playmaking and scoring, the Lakers are trying to strike a balance between immediate competitiveness and preserving one of the game’s all-time greats.
James‘ statistical production continues to impress for a player his age, and league observers have pointed out how rare it is for someone to remain this effective at 41.
According to fancompiled historical data, his per-game scoring, rebounding, and assist numbers at 40 outpaced those of other Hall of Famers who played into their 40s.
Yet the tradeoffs are being felt across the NBA. The Lakers‘ cautious handling of James has placed him on the brink of ineligibility for postseason honors.
Under league rules, a player must appear in at least 65 games to qualify for All-NBA and All-Star teams, and James‘ injury absence and strategic rest have put his streak of 21 consecutive seasons in jeopardy.
And having missed 17 games, if he misses one more, he’ll be out of contention for those teams.
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