“This load management narrative needs to stop”: LeBron James guarantees that he will turn out for the Lakers in the foreseeable future, sees rest as a secondary concern

The Lakers are currently on a 3-game slide, which is perhaps why LeBron James finds the concept of rest abhorrent.

The long-term loss of Anthony Davis due to a calf strain has come at the wrong time for the Lakers. They now find themselves in the 3rd position in the Conference, with a game against league leaders Utah coming up.

They swallowed a tough pill with their second straight loss in clutch, with this one coming against Washington. True, Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook pulled their weight for the Wizards to see them home.

But the Lakers held a double-digit advantage for the first 60% of the game. They had the werewithal to see themselves through. But with Montrezl Harrell picking up 5 fouls by the time the Lakers entered their clutch period, they only had LeBron James as a reliable scorer on the floor at the end.

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The implications were obvious. The Wizards were able to turn it up on the defensive end, and forced James and co into turnovers, missed shots and even blown layups.

LeBron James talks about how he doesn’t want any rest

Despite being 36 years old, it would be a foolhardy man who’d bet against LeBron James even today. The superstar has earned the benefit of doubt from everyone with possibly the greatest resume in NBA history. A few regular-season games don’t move the needle in that regard.

James himself shot down the narrative of him needing more help and more rest in yesterday’s post-game presser:

“This whole narrative of (I) need more rest … I don’t talk about it. I don’t believe in it. We all need more rest, shit. But I’m here to work, to punch my clock in and be available to my teammates.”

LeBron on resting/missing games:

“This whole narrative of (I) need more rest … I don’t talk about it. I don’t believe in it. We all need more rest, shit. But I’m here to work, to punch my clock in and be available to my teammates.”

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 23, 2021

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The Lakers will definitely need James to pull his full weight if they are to hold on to their current high seeding. Kyle Kuzma may talk about the inconsequential nature of seeding all he wants, but the Lakers would definitely prefer a high-placed finish in the eventual standings.