Lakers coach JJ Redick didn't expect LeBron James to play Tuesday on the second leg of a back-to-back . Not at 41 years old. Not in Year 23.
But James had other plans.
So, his morning looked like this: Wake up. Take a cold plunge. Get into the hyperbaric chamber. Take a nap. Normatec his legs for 45 minutes as he watched EA Sports PGA Tour. Take a shower. Get dressed. Go to Crypto.com Arena.
LeBron James shoots as Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson defends during the first half of an NBA game Tuesday. AP
James dribbles as guard Marcus Smart follows during the second half of the game against the Hawks Tuesday. AP
Then his normal routine began, consisting of activation, treatment, rehab, stretching, lifting and mentally preparing for the game. He squeezed in a meal at some point, too.
After all of that, James and his trainer Mike Mancias looked at each other.
"I said, 'I think I feel pretty good,'" James recalled.
He went on to play in his first back-to-back of the season, and finished with his best performance yet: 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in the Lakers' 141–116 win over the Atlanta Hawks . James was electric, snapping the Lakers' three-game losing streak with one-handed dunks, explosive reverse layups, and 3-pointers, all while patrolling the boards and combining with Luka Doncic for 22 assists.
The whole thing made Lakers coach Redick mad.
Why, you may ask?
"It's unfortunate actually — not to go on a little tangent here, but it's actually unfortunate how much this guy puts into it and how much he cares and the way certain people talk about him," Redick said. "It's crazy. Come be around him everyday and see how much this guy cares. It's off the charts."
Ever since James entered the NBA as an 18-year-old in 2003, he has been heavily criticized. He passes too much. He shoots too much. He does too much of this. Not enough of that. Now that he's in Year 23, there are questions about his commitment, his engagement, his fatigue.
James shoots as Hawks forward Jalen Johnson and guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker defend. AP
James dominates in Lakers' win over Atlanta Hawks Tuesday. AP
While the negativity makes Redick fume, it barely registers for James.
"Nah, I mean, it's my life," James said. "It's been like that for quite a while now. I just hope once I'm done, I've made an impact for people who follow my career and watch me, my fans that have been locked down with me for over 23 years since I started this journey as a high school freshman, I will say. That's all that matters, my crew that's been with me. Everything else doesn't matter."
Redick said James' grueling preparation for the Hawks was not an anomaly.
Every game, James gives his all to be able to play. It's the reason why he's the only NBA player to reach Year 23. It's the reason why he was still the best player on the court Tuesday, despite Doncic finishing with 27 points and 12 assists.
When prodded further, Redick expounded on why the negativity bothers him so much.
"That's the nature of envy," Redick said. "You're not going to get a click, you're not going to get a response by saying something nice about somebody. By acknowledging someone's greatness. By acknowledging how much they care, how much they work and how much they continue to accomplish. How much they continue to go after something. You gotta say something bad about him. You gotta go on TV and knock him. You gotta go read into, oh, he did this pregame and oh — it's all just nuts. Be around him everyday. He's unbelievable."
After Tuesday's game, James admitted the wear and tear of consecutive games had caught up to him. AP
James' performance came on the heels of the Lakers holding a 10-minute pregame team meeting to make sure their lifeless 124–112 loss to the Sacramento Kings the previous evening didn't seep into Tuesday's contest. The Lakers went on to lead by as much as 32 points against the Hawks, as well as score 81 first-half points, the most they've scored in any half, all season.
As for James, he acknowledged earlier this month that he's "TBD" on back-to-backs for the rest of the season. After explaining what his day looked like Tuesday, he was asked where the care factor comes from for him to go through such intense days.
"I would never disrespect the basketball Gods when it comes to playing this game, so I'll put the time and effort and the commitment into it, mentally, physically, spiritually, every time I hit the floor or at practice, whatever it may be," James said. "I mean, s–t, my son is right over there, so I can't afford to cheat the game ever and I would never do that."
James was ageless on the floor Tuesday. But as he stood by his locker after the game, he couldn't help but admit that the wear and tear of consecutive games had caught up to him.
"Oh I feel it," he said, flashing a smile. "I feel it right now."
