LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers fell 119-107 in their opening night battle with the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets had swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals exactly five months earlier, and the reigning NBA champions continued their recent dominance over L.A.
In a surprising turn of events, LeBron only received 29 minutes of action. He played fewer minutes than any other starter from either team. The four-time champ also led the Lakers in plus-minus with a +7 mark.
LeBron recorded 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists while shooting 10/16 from the field. The NBA legend seemed understandably frustrated with his lack of playing time in the season opener.
“I mean, I always want to be on the floor, especially when you have an opportunity to win a game, and you feel you can make an impact,” LeBron said, per Daniel Starkand of Lakers Nation. “But I guess there’s a system in place, and I’ll follow it.”
While LeBron seemed disappointed with his playing time, the 19-time All-Star added that he discussed the minutes restriction with head coach Darvin Ham prior to the game. For that reason, LeBron was not bothered or surprised by his minutes.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets Updates
Ham gave LeBron 35.5 minutes per game last season, and the all-time great played 38.7 minutes a night in the playoffs. As he enters his 21st season at 38 years old, LeBron will see his minutes take a slight dip. Even so, 29 minutes still seemed light for LeBron, especially considering the level he displayed during his time on the floor.
According to Starkand, Ham suggested that managing LeBron’s minutes will require “day-to-day” consideration. A workload close to his 29-minute outing will likely recur throughout the season.
If LeBron misses more time and plays fewer minutes, Anthony Davis will have to play much better than he did on opening night. Davis shot an abysmal 6/17 from the field on his way to an abominable performance. The talented big man unsurprisingly recorded the lowest plus-minus from either team as he finished with a -17 mark.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets Updates
LeBron still runs the offense for Los Angeles, which may cause Ham to loosen his restrictions as the season progresses. With his 39th birthday on the horizon, LeBron will need all the help he can get.
