The Los Angeles Lakers (16-21) may be without superstar big man Anthony Davis due to a foot injury, but they do have LeBron James, one of the greatest players in NBA history.
And rookie head coach Darvin Ham has indicated that he will continue to lean on the four-time MVP until Davis returns and the Lakers are healthy.
“I just want to ride him,” Ham said, per ESPN. “And he allows you to do that because he takes such great care of himself. So, it’s a great luxury to have.”
While AD has missed the last nine Lakers contests, James has taken over and has averaged 35.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. The King has put up back-to-back 40-point outings in the previous two games and led the Lakers to a 6-5 record over the last 11 games, eight without AD. The future Hall-of-Famer has maintained dominance because of his famously rigid body maintenance.
“At 18 and 20, you’re just doing it off straight-up energy and straight skill,” he said when comparing his younger self to now, per Yahoo Sports. “But at 38, for me, it’s mental. How much rest I can get from day to day, get my optimal sleep, get the right food in me, treat my body right.”
While The King’s dominance has been amazing to watch, Ham has to be careful that he doesn’t rely too heavily on James. The future Hall-of-Famer has more basketball behind him than ahead of him, and he’s dealt with more leg injuries than ever.
The Lakers have a soft schedule between Jan. 3 and Jan. 15, with four of them being played at home. Right now, the Lakers are just four games back of the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference and are set to host the Heat and Hawks on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.
