Lakers: Davon Ham will ‘continue to monitor’ LeBron James’ minutes

Darvin Ham will continue to keep an eye on James’ playing time, as the 21-year-old veteran still finds himself averaging over 30 minutes per game.

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  Edwin Garcia
  

• exist November 4, 2023 8:44 am

LeBron James is 38 years old and starting his 21st season, and all the talk is about easing James’ burden.

Whether that means Anthony Davis is that guy now, Rob Pelinka has built a talented roster, helps the team stay relevant in non-LeBron time, or it limits James’ own minutes. All phrasing is designed to ensure the Lakers star has to do less during the regular season so he can be at his best in the playoffs.

Five games into the year, however, James finds himself nearing the peak of his playing time, averaging 35.6 minutes per game, which doesn’t exactly showcase a team showing restraint in the face of veteran wear and tear.

After the Lakers beat the Clippers, head coach Davin Hamm discussed monitoring LeBron James’ minutes after the game, but it took overtime to do that, resulting in James playing 42 minutes.

“It’s something that happens every day. We have a plan, but once we get the overwhelming response to these games, that plan pretty much disappears,” Ham said. “I always say I have a plan for him for three quarters, and in the fourth quarter, anything can happen. And, I’ll say it again – the intensity of his competition and the intensity of my competition put us in the same boat hopefully. He can play and he wants to play.”

If the game is within reach, the temptation for James to overextend will always be there. No matter where you rank James all-time, he’s in the conversation for the greatest player of all time. You’re not going to find this kind of talent off the bench, nor are you going to find the other players you wish you had on this or any roster.

With the Lakers already suffering so many injuries, a streamlined bench makes it more difficult to limit James’ performance.

“We’re definitely going to continue to monitor this and take action day by day, but again, with so many people out there – Torien, Rui, Gabe, all those guys – seeing our guys step up, That’s our main focus this summer is building a balanced roster with depth at every position in a moment like this where guys just have their numbers (and) have to step up. Hopefully that will continue to happen — not Injuries — but guys being able to step up and take responsibility, hopefully that will allow us to give LeBron some more rest and reduce his minutes.”

It sounds like the best way to limit James’ usage is to get a comfortable lead early and give him a longer rest, especially in the first three quarters, because in the fourth quarter, “anything can happen.” That means getting off to a better start in the first quarter, and Los Angeles has yet to lose a first game this season, 166-119.

If other supporting players like Max Christie and Cam Reddish can step up while others are sidelined, the Lakers can ease the burden on James and continue to win on their upcoming four-game road trip .

If they can’t, expect James to play more minutes than the team has discussed. The temptation to play him is too great, and ultimately, if James wants to play, he will. You can achieve that desire by staying ahead and controlling the game through four quarters, rather than needing another masterclass performance from James in the fourth quarter to win.

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