Thursday night against the Kings was a big night for LeBron James. After all, he had just broken another of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s records and now sits at the top of the NBA’s all-time leaders for most played regular-season minutes. However, that wasn’t the only thing making waves on the internet surrounding the 39-year-old. There was a mysterious cuffed package, too, that caught the attention of the eagle-eyed fans. They wouldn’t have been curious if the mysterious thing hadn’t been discreetly passed to James during the game. But what exactly was it?

After returning from their last 4-game road trip, the Lakers had to drop James from their roster as the superstar forward was dealing with left foot soreness. He received an extended break, and after being sidelined for two games, he made his comeback against the Grizzlies. So, the mysterious package could very well have been a special supplement to help manage his foot injury. “Indocin could be what they gave him,” suggested Kwame Brown on Kwame Brown Bust Life, offering a detailed description of the incident. “It’s normally a long-lasting anti-inflammatory, so that’s what I’m saying.”

The former NBA player believed the Lakers’ trainer wouldn’t take a risk by giving a performance-enhancing drug (PED) to the 20-time All-Star, especially with so many high-profile athletes present at the game. Considering the way King James is performing at his age, that conversation is unlikely to fade away anytime soon. Amid all the suspicion going around it, the 4-time champion showed optimism about his health issues. After the 103-99 victory against the Kings, James said in a locker room interview, “Figuring out a way to continue to make my foot feel as great as it can be, you know, obviously paying attention to that.”

The good news for his fans is that he claimed, “I’ve been feeling pretty good, especially after the break. And we see what happens. We see what happens, but I’m playing the game when I’m out there, and I’m making sure that I know what’s going on when I’m not out there, you know, throughout the whole course of the game.” That’s for sure. Even when he was out, he still lingers on the sideline, watching every minute of the games.

Moreover, he has been given additional responsibilities now. “Most important is my voice,” he stated. “I always gotta make sure that my voice is always commanding and calling things out and letting guys know what things are happening behind the defense.” While he is the voice guiding the Lakers army, Anthony Davis is the anchor, James mentioned. “So I just try to guide the rest of the guys behind the back line and let those guys know what’s going on behind them. So, just try to be in the right place at the right time and also take responsibility in my individual matchups,” he added.

And it looks like some change is already visible now that the Lakers have won four of their last five matchups. To top that, they are sitting on a three-game winning streak after defeating the Kings. However, just a couple of weeks ago, the Lakers were somewhat struggling, as they had lost eight games out of the 11 played. Crediting the recent victories to his team, James, who led with 32 points in the last game, said that the Lakers are “doing the little things” to bag these victories.

Moving on, James might be feeling good after all the rest he got, but the concern is that he has been spending way more time on the hardwood. This could impact his health in the latter half of the season, as pointed out by an NBA great.

Former NBA star advises to reconsider LeBron James’ playing time

What LeBron James is probably going through in his 22nd season can only be understood by someone who has experienced it themselves. And there’s only one player who has played that many seasons in the league. Yes, you guessed it right- Vince Carter.

Recently on Run It Back, the former swingman pointed out, “He (LeBron) was playing too many darn minutes.” Before anyone jumps to conclusions, Carter clarified that he has no issues with the Lakers star playing every game. What he takes issue with is that James is playing way too many minutes, to be precise, an average of 35 minutes per game.

While he might not look like someone about to turn 40 with all his superhuman moves and actions, the fact cannot be changed. “It wears on you, no matter what your mind [says], your body is talking to you,” the 47-year-old highlighted.

And it’s not only for the benefit of James that Carter brought the matter up but also with the franchise’s well-being in mind. “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?” the former dunker asked, then answered himself, “I think you need him in the back end.”

LeBron James is the backbone of the Purple and Gold, and there’s no denying that the team has heavily relied on him since his arrival. However, over-utilizing him now might not be the best strategy. The team will need him to consistently deliver top-notch performances when crucial games arise, especially as players tire after load management. Maybe it’s time for HC JJ Redick to re-strategize. But then again, we’re talking about LeBron James, a player capable of making the impossible happen. So, we better follow his words and “we see what happens.”