I don't know what the coli consensus is on this, but I definitely don't think the best player in the world, who is only 31, needs to be resting for regular season games. It's not like he's some fragile older player.
It's amazing to me that people seem to think that NBA players such as Jordan, Kobe, LeBron only "work" for the 2 and a half hours during the game. They didn't become who they were simply by playing organized games and going home and calling it a night. They became legendary by not only running mandatory team practices, but also practicing maniacally on their own....staying fit, working out.
Yes, Jordan indulged but he was also a gymrat....most of the elites were/are.
And more importantly, these guys are so much more in-tune with their bodies...much more so than us regular mufukkas, that if a guy like LeBron is taking off....I trust that he knows his body, he prolly is nursing a minor ailment and resting it is the best thing to do...for the big picture.
Look at what happened to Steph last year, granted two different players...but LeBron has much more mileage and he's older.
Peep this:
Objectively speaking, one could easily make the case that no player that made the quantum leap hit the ground running as effectively as James. And now, after becoming the youngest player in NBA history to eclipse 27,000 career points, it’s time to start talking about the only other goal—aside from more championships—that is still worth his interest: Kareem’s scoring title.
The current generation of NBA fans have seen a fair number of promising careers either cut short or severely limited due to injury. Of all of his gifts, LeBron’s health has been the greatest.
Thus far, James has played in 12 82-game seasons and has averaged 77 games played. Over the course of the 13 complete seasons he has played thus far, James has played in 987 of a possible 1,050 games—94 percent.
In terms of longevity and productivity, Bryant is a good model. He recently ended a 20-year career that saw him begin playing at 18 years old. When it was all said and done, Bryant had amassed 33,643 points, which is third-most in history.
At the ripe age of 34 years old—despite playing in his 17th season—Bryant was able to average over 27 points per game. Had he not suffered injuries in the final years of his career, he would have probably had a legitimate shot to run down Kareem’s record. For the duration of his career, Bryant was widely regarded as a tough player who often played hurt and took pride in putting on his hard hat, especially in the years following his divorce with Shaquille O’Neal.
For comparison sake, compare the first 12 82-game seasons of Bryant’s career with that of James. Bryant managed an average of 75 games per year—slightly less. And when directly comparing the first 13 seasons of their careers, Bryant played in 948 of a possible 1,034 games. That’s 91 percent.
By either measure, through 13 years, James has been more durable.
Could LeBron Ultimately Surpass Kareem? | Basketball Insiders | NBA Rumors And Basketball News
If Lebron is taking a game off, it's not to be lazy. I'm not a stan but his record speaks for itself.
I would like NBA to eliminate back 2 backs or maybe lessen games so this doesn't happen
