“Everybody would also tell you, and you can see for yourself, the athletic LeBron, dominant that he was a couple of years ago, is not the same that he is now”. Joel Embiid’s remarks, made just weeks before the Paris Olympics, highlighted a truth many recognized but chose to overlook. Despite his continued dominance in the NBA, LeBron James is the oldest player among over 400 athletes in the league. Unlike Michael Jordan, who wasn’t subjected to reduced minutes during his time with the Washington Wizards—a decision that reportedly didn’t benefit the team—Embiid’s comments sparked a debate about whether the 39-year-old Lakers star should consider a minutes restriction. However, both the player and his agent are unwilling to entertain that notion.

Earlier today, the highly awaited Netflix series ‘Starting 5’ dropped on the streaming platform. The first episode highlighted how then Lakers head coach Darvin Ham wanted to start keeping LeBron under a minutes restriction. If implemented, the player would only remain on the court for 28 to 32 minutes. It resonated with the coach’s early claim, where he promoted the need for younger players to do the heavy lifting in the future. Even the discussion of such a change made LeBron frustrated. As revealed in the episode that covered a Lakers-Nuggets game, LeBron said to the coaching staff, “I know y’all got me on f—–g old-man percentages and sh-t. Play eight minutes and sh-t.” For LeBron, his frustration lay in the fact that the discussion on the restriction is taking place when it isn’t even the thing he wants.

“The minutes restriction … it’s something I just … I don’t agree with,” said the 39-year-old during the episode. “I’ve never agreed with it, I’ve prepared my body physically, and mentally prepared my mind for battle. I’ve had conversations, and talks, and battles with my coaches. I get it, but I also understand me, I get me, and there’s nobody that gets me more than me.”

Rich Paul, LeBron James’ longtime agent, shed some more light on the player’s mindset. “His (LeBron’s) passion for winning is second to none. And I think the toughest part of it is, he gets this, ‘Oh, he’s controlling the team. Right.’ And the reality of it is, that’s not true. But for him, it probably becomes very, very frustrating to be positioned as you have the control without actually having the control.”

LeBron James has been among the top players in the league for over two decades. His popularity level is so massive, that his presence or even absence with a particular franchise is known to affect the economy of the team’s city. As a leader, he has won two championships with the Miami Heat, one with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and another with the Los Angeles Lakers. After such a long career, the player is unlikely to relinquish control or compromise on his minutes, and fortunately, his fans feel the same way. Despite being 39 years old for most of the 2023-24 season, LeBron averaged an impressive 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists throughout the regular season. His remarkable streak of not scoring below 10 points since January 2007 remains intact to this day.

While Joel Embiid specifically targeted LeBron James, he also made a case against other older players. “I think people get fooled by the names on paper. But those names have been built throughout their career, and now they’re older. They’re not what they used to be.” However, the King continues to defy the odds. LeBron averaged 14.2 points to help Team USA lock down the gold medal and even won the MVP. Furthermore, the recent Lakers pre-season game gives us a clue of the King’s dominance on the court. The King certainly stands out amongst the younger members of his squad.

“I have a lot more energy” – LeBron James takes jab at younger players after pre-season loss

After being absent from the Lakers debut pre-season game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, both LeBron James and Anthony Davis played against the Phoenix Suns. The duo contributed a combined total of 36 points, with one scoring 19 and the other 17. At the same time, the younger players seemed to struggle. Despite playing almost double the minutes than LeBron, Austin Reaves only added 9 points! On top of that, Dalton Knecht only accumulated 7, and Bronny James got 0 points. For anyone calling out for a minutes restriction, LeBron now had the perfect answer.

“You guys know my energy level. I have a lot more energy than a lot of the young guys,” LeBron said. “I boost their energy up if you want me to be completely honest.”

The 19 points were just one thing. With an impressive 8-for-12 shooting performance and 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, the four-time champion showcased his enduring athleticism. This was exemplified by his chase-down block, where he snatched the ball away from Devin Booker. With Darvin Ham now gone too, and Joel Embiid not in his squad, there is no one on his team, for now, who can make a case in favor of the minutes restriction.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.