LOS ANGELES – After recording more than 40 minutes for the fourth time this month, only to see the Los Angeles Lakers lose 127-124 in overtime for the Washington Wizards on Monday night, LeBron James insisted he could handle the load of job being requested from him.
“I think this whole ‘LeBron narrative needs more rest’ or I should get more rest or I should have some time here, it has become much bigger than what it really is,” said James. “I never talked about it, I don’t talk about it, I don’t believe it. We all need more rest, s —. This is a quick turnaround from last season, and we all wish we could rest more, but I am here to work, I am here to set the time and be available to my companions.
“And if I’m hurt or if I’m not feeling well, then we can look at that. But I have nothing but honest people [advising me], but I’m also honest with myself, and having a love for the game and being able to be available to my teammates is more important than anything. “
James played 43 minutes against the Wizards and accumulated 31 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds, but admitted he was not his best.
He played just one minute and six seconds from the fourth half and overtime and scored 13 points, but hit 6 to 13 on doing so (0 to 4 of 3) and had four of his eight high moves during that time interval. He also hit 1 to 3 on the free-throw line, including a failure in an e-1 attempt that would have put LA in one with 9.8 seconds remaining in the fourth half.
“Obviously, I take full responsibility [for] missing that free throw, “said James.” I have to do the free throw up there; it is an easy point for us. But we didn’t lose the game there. But I assume that responsibility, for sure, and I have to improve. “
During the first month and a half of this season, Lakers coach Frank Vogel was certainly better at managing the 18-year-old veteran’s minutes. Before February, James averaged 33.3 minutes per game – which was 43rd in the league and represented the least amount of playing time in his career, according to data compiled by ESPN Stats & Information.
Since the beginning of the month, however, James has averaged 38.2 minutes in 11 games – the NBA maximum – and LA is starting to fight, having lost four of the last five games since Anthony Davis aggravated his Achilles tendonosis while suffering a calf strain on his right leg against the Denver Nuggets.
“I’m not pushing myself,” said James, 36, who has played in all 32 LA games this season. “I wouldn’t say that. I’m going out and playing the game. I’m doing my job and I’m trying to do it at a high level, but that has been a narrative around the league.
“I never asked for time off or time off during the season. And it’s growing to a point where it doesn’t come from me anymore. It’s like, ‘OK, LeBron should take time off’ or ‘Why is your workload on this one?’ I’ve heard that for five, six, seven years and I’m still strong. So I don’t need alms, I’m not looking for alms, my job is to go out when I’m available, when I’m healthy to go out and play, and that’s what it’s about . “
James never played this condensed schedule, coming out of a 71-day season, however.
Vogel was asked whether he considered keeping James out of the team in order to keep the Lakers captain fresh, with a repeat title being the team’s ultimate goal.
“We have considered this throughout the season with him. And we will make these decisions on a game-by-game basis,” said Vogel.
Los Angeles guard Alex Caruso compared the Lakers’ current fall – a streak of three consecutive defeats without Davis and guard Dennis Schroder – to the four-game skid that LA had about a third of the way over last season. And Lakers centerman Montrezl Harrell said the team’s difficulties will cause “a lot of thought”.
As for James, the heart and soul of the title champions, Vogel praised the work he is doing, even when losses are starting to pile up.
“He’s a workhorse,” said Vogel. “He’s doing everything he can for us.”