The Los Angeles Lakers lined up for their preseason matchup against the Phoenix Suns tonight without LeBron James on the playing roster. Head coach JJ Redick took a page out of San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich's book while telling media members why James was ruled out against the Suns .
“DNP - Old. … Taking it out of Pop’s (Gregg Popovich) book.”
The reference to Popovich comes from 2012 when the Spurs rested Tim Duncan ahead of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers , officially listing the reason as a 'DNP-Old' due to Duncan being 36 years old at the time.
James is older than Duncan was then and already has the most minutes played in NBA history, so it makes sense for the Lakers to hold him out of risky preseason action after his participation in the same already.
The TNT broadcast during Lakers vs. Suns revealed that James is expected to not play in the Lakers' final preseason clash against the Golden State Warriors either.
"LeBron James, out tonight for rest, will not play tomorrow in GSW either, a source familiar with James' plans confirmed to ESPN. Jared Greenberg reported earlier tonight on the TNT broadcast. This will give James a full week's rest between his final preseason game and opener vs MIN."
If James won't play against the Warriors, he will end the 2024 preseason with an average of 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in three games played.
LeBron James' Secret To Playing 22 Years At The Highest Level
LeBron's longevity is honestly ridiculous, as we have never seen an NBA player come even remotely close to the level of dominance James has sustained over a 22-year NBA career so far. He's been named to every All-Star and All-NBA team since his sophomore season, a testament to the generational excellence he's shown fans over the last two decades.
James was one of the five players featured on Netflix's 'Starting 5' series which gives a peak into the lives of NBA players. During the show, James frankly discussed how he's managed to stay at the top of his game professionally and physically for so long .
"I've heard this crazy notion about how much money I spend on my body per year. And I kind of just chuckle. That is a number that I will not disclose. But more importantly, I think it's the time."
"Do cryotherapy, cold tub, hot tub, red light. Hyperbaric chambers."
"Sleep is the best recovery that you can have. It's basically equivalent to you putting your phone in a charger when you go to bed. Am I able to do it every single night? Of course not. But if you try to get the most sleep that you can get that is the only way that you're gonna get back to 100%."
There definitely is more to it than that, as James' longevity is almost unparalleled across the near-8-year history of the NBA. But James is an athletic freak who has been preparing to play as much basketball as physically possible since he entered the league as an 18-year-old.
James' longevity has created a blueprint for other aging stars such as Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry as well, and it'll extend to the players after them as well. He can enjoy his 'DNP-Old' moments in preseason because when the games start mattering, James continues to show up with his best self on display.
Related: ESPN Releases Top 10 Player Rankings: Jokic Still Number 1; LeBron, Curry And KD Not Even In Top 5
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