Lakers' LeBron James prepping for 21st season 'like a rookie' - ESPN

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers' plan to help LeBron James extend his unprecedented prime into the 21st season of an illustrious career involves adding talent around him, not so much cutting his minutes.

«Bron, he does a great job taking care of himself,» Lakers coach Darvin Ham said Thursday at a news conference ahead of the start of L.A.'s training camp next week. «The team that's around him now, the pieces that we have in place, those guys are going to step up and do a lot of heavy lifting early.»

James, who will turn 39 in December, averaged 35.5 minutes per game last season, which was a tick down from the 37.2 minutes per game he logged in 2021-22 but was still more than he played in any of his first three seasons with the Lakers. Statistically, James was still impactful — averaging 28.9 points on 50% shooting with 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists — but a torn tendon in his right foot caused him to miss 27 games.

While there's been little noticeable drop off in James' overall game since he signed with the Lakers, his body has betrayed him at times. He's missed 111 games because of injury in the last five seasons after only missing 71 games in his first 15 years in the league.

Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka praised James' offseason work ethic and mental approach following the Lakers' disappointing end to the postseason when they were swept out of the Western Conference finals by the Denver Nuggets.

«It's staggering for a player who has 20 years under the hood already and is preparing for 21 like he's a rookie,» Pelinka said. «He's been doing 6 a.m. workouts. Probably been in our building as much as any player this offseason. Been in the weight room as much as