Since LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, the team’s front office has attempted to ease the burden on him by pairing him with proven ball-handlers like Rajon Rondo, Dennis Schröder and, most recently, Russell Westbrook.
While that plan seemed to be working well over the last two years, James, in his 19th season, is currently averaging 37 minutes per game, which is tied for the second-most in the NBA with Kevin Durant, and is the most minutes he’s averaged since the 2016-17 season.
That increased workload has become a cause of concern for Lakers fans, especially with his 37th birthday just around the corner, but it’s not a concern of the coaching staff because James hasn’t made them feel like it is.