No matter how hard it is to believe, LeBron James is 39 years old. It might not seem that way from the way he plays, with his remarkable flexibility, but playing him for too long may not be sustainable. With the Lakers superstar sidelined due to foot soreness, former NBA great suggests head coach JJ Redick should re-strategize his plan around LeBron’s availability.

During his appearance on the Run It Back show, Vince Carter highlighted, “Too many minutes. He was playing too many darn minutes. I actually was covering that game, and he was playing 35 something minutes. And I’m all for him playing every game. That’s not the thing.” Who better than Vince Carter to understand how the body works in the 22nd season of an NBA career? After all, he’s been through the same journey.

This season, LeBron has missed only one game and has played an average of 35 minutes per game. However, Carter pointed out that this workload won’t help the franchise, as it could wear him down by the middle and end of the season, when his presence will be needed the most.

Though the former swingman doesn’t mind LeBron appearing in all games, he also stated, “It wears on you, no matter what your mind [says], your body is talking to you.” Preserving LeBron now would be wiser for Redick, especially with Anthony Davis contributing consistently. Carter believes that playing LeBron fewer minutes will ultimately benefit the Lakers in the long run.

“I just feel like you have to find time to dial him back because do you need LeBron James more in the beginning of the season with AD playing like this, or do you need him from the middle to the back end of the year? I think you need him in the back end,” the 47-year-old emphasized.

As of now, Carter remains the only NBA player in league history to play 1,541 games. The 4-time champion LeBron would need to play 27 more games to surpass him, which he will easily do this season. However, what allowed the former to continue playing until age 43 was the reduced minutes on the floor. So, he suggested the same for LeBron, as it could help him maintain his longevity.

LeBron might not be in his best form, averaging 23.0 points per night for the first time following his rookie season, but he is still reportedly receiving calls from reputable suitors.

Warriors have allegedly shown interest in LeBron James

The ongoing discussion among NBA analysts at the moment is the possibility of a reunion between LeBron James and Stephen Curry in San Francisco. The Warriors want the throne again, but they lack the necessary star power, something that LeBron James and Stephen Curry could provide. The basketball community already knows what could happen if the duo were paired up. But could Golden State be the spot?

After all, both are chasing their 5th title, and their current teams haven’t shown the potential to be ready for a championship run. However, LeBron did turn the Warriors down last season. When they came calling, he expressed his desire to retire as a Laker. Will he do the same this time, or will there be good news for both icons’ fanbases before the trade window? We’ll have to patiently wait for the answer.