Not long after LeBron James won his fourth championship and first with the Los Angeles Lakers, he started planning a family vacation.
A short time after that, the plans were voided.
That’s because the NBA decided to start the 2020-21 season on Dec. 22 — or just 72 days after James and the Lakers won their last Finals game over the Miami Heat.
“Just being completely honest, I wasn’t expecting that,” James told the media Monday from training camp.
“Early conversations were going on, and I was hearing there would be kind of a mid-January start. Training camp would start after Christmas, and we would have the opportunity to spend Christmas with our families. … I had to switch up a lot of things. I just started preparing my mind and preparing my body.”
James turns 36 at the end of the month, but man, he sure showed no signs of slowing down at the end of last season. He averaged 27.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.8 assists in 21 playoff games.
Still, with the quick turnaround, Lakers coach Frank Vogel admitted there could be some of the good, ol’ fashioned “load management” with James.
“We’ve had preliminary conversations about it,” Vogel said. “But we’re both of the mindset to see how it plays out and evaluate each day and each week how he’s feeling, and not lock in to any set plan,” Vogel said. “It’s really going to be a day-to-day approach.”
The Lakers added some assistance this offseason. When it comes to resting James, the biggest additions are forward Montrezl Harrell and point guard Dennis Schroder. LeBron mans both of those positions. He could also take off some practice days — though neither James nor Vogel indicated that’s a possibility.
“I’ve always listened to my coaches,” James said. “We had the same thing last year. We’re going to be as smart as we can be making sure that my body (is healthy) and making sure that I’m ready to go.”
And it’s not the Lakers are going to concern themselves too much with a midseason game against, say, the Detroit Pistons or Minnesota Timberwolves. James’ priority is title No. 5.
“Obviously every game matters, but we’re competing for something that’s high,” he said.
Vogel agreed.
“There is no doubt. The goal of every year, but in particular this year, is to make sure we’re healthy and whole going into the playoffs,” he said. “That’s not to say that we’re going to take the regular season lightly. The guys that are on the floor are going to compete.
“I have the intention to recreate the identity of playing harder than the opponent every night. But our goal is definitely to make sure we’re healthy come playoff time.”
