LeBron James Drops F-Bombs on Lakers Coaches Over Load Management in Viral Clip

LeBron James features prominently in Netflix’s new docuseries Starting 5, which also stars Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards, Domantas Sabonis, and Jayson Tatum. As the most senior member of the group, the series documents James during his 21st season in the NBA.

A major factor in James’ sustained career has been his exceptional health. However, as he has aged, managing his playing time has become increasingly important. This theme is evident throughout the documentary, particularly during a scene where James reacts to being placed on a minutes restriction during the Lakers’ first game of the season against the Denver Nuggets.

James clearly expresses his frustration with the restriction, vehemently arguing with his coaches about the necessity of load management despite feeling fitter than his teammates.

“Yeah I know,” LeBron exclaimed to the coaching staff. “I know you’ve put me on these old man time percentages and stuff. Eight minutes of play, just two shots, merely getting in some cardio. I already despise this setup. It’s terrible. You all know I’m in top shape compared to everyone else.”

Despite these restrictions, James managed to average 35.3 minutes per game last season, ranking 17th in the league and only slightly behind DeMar DeRozan, the minutes leader. This was just a minor reduction from the 37.8 minutes he averaged when he led the league in 2016-2017.

It’s surprising how a slight cut in playing time can significantly frustrate James, a testament to his competitive spirit. This drive is likely what will propel him to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most minutes played in NBA regular season history this year.

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