LeBron James, still playing at an elite level in his 21st NBA season (now 22nd), made his frustration clear regarding his minutes restriction during the 2023-24 campaign. In Netflix’s newly released docu-series Starting 5, James is shown voicing his dissatisfaction with the Lakers’ coaching staff, taking direct aim at former head coach Darvin Ham. The tension is palpable as James criticizes the team’s decision to limit his playing time, a move that he felt undermined his fitness and readiness to compete at his peak.

“I know y’all got me on f—ing old man time percentages and s—. Play eight minutes and s—. Two shots in eight minutes. Just getting cardio. I hate this s— already. This s—‘s garbage. I know I am in better shape than everybody,” he could be heard, practically screaming, in Episode 1, titled, ‘Meet The Hoopers Part I’. The statement, made during the Lakers’ opening night loss to the Denver Nuggets, highlights James’ frustration with the management of his minutes, despite reportedly spending $1.5 million annually to maintain his body.

Ham had previously spoken publicly about the team’s plan to manage James’ workload, mentioning the Lakers’ younger, more athletic roster as a key reason for easing the burden on the four-time MVP. “Now that we have a highly, highly balanced, skilled, athletic, younger team, those guys gonna step up and do all the heavy lifting early.”

However, LeBron’s behind-the-scenes reaction reveals a disconnect between the coaching strategy and the player’s expectations. While publicly, LeBron downplayed concerns about his minutes—saying there was a system in place and he would follow it—the Netflix footage shows a different side of the conversation.

If you remember, though, Jovan Buha of The Athletic had tweeted a completely different response from James last October. “LeBron clarifies he’s not surprised or upset about his minutes. He knew how much he was going to play tonight,” Buha wrote.

Interestingly, right before this, Bron pointed out that it’s only natural for anyone to want to be on the floor, but “there’s a system in place and I’m going to follow it.” However, in the course of the season, it wasn’t just about minutes’ restriction. The relationship between the coach and his team was eroding. And it was something that the Lakers rookie, Bronny James, also seemed to have an idea about.

Amidst championship aspirations, LeBron James’ son pointed out a major locker room upgrade

Following their disappointing playoff exit last season, Bronny James noted an improvement in the locker room atmosphere, comparing it to the previous year’s tension after the Los Angeles Lakers‘ defeat to the Nuggets.

And Coach Ham was at the center of it. At least that seems to be Bronny’s claim. Talking about JJ Redick during training camp, the former USC guard said, “He’s a great coach so far. Been amazing vibes in the facility so far so I feel like it’s upped the vibes from what it was last year from what I’ve heard.”

Although Bronny’s remarks weren’t a direct criticism of Ham, it’s possible that his opinions were influenced by discussions with his father or other players. Regardless, the team seems to have a positive outlook with their new coach.

As LeBron continues his historic career, playing alongside Bronny may add a new sense of motivation, but his relationship with the coaching staff and the management of his playing time will likely remain a focal point. Whether this new dynamic under Redick can help the Lakers return to championship form remains to be seen, but James’ frustration suggests that balancing his veteran role and the younger roster will be a key challenge for the team moving forward.

Hopefully, the fresh perspective and a joyful locker room might be enough to inspire the Lakers team to get that title before James hangs up his boots. As for the man in question, it’s clear that Bron has more than enough tank in the gas. And with the added motivation of playing alongside his son, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him carrying the team over the edge.