LeBron James and Anthony Davis are fresh off helping to lead Team USA men’s basketball to an Olympic gold medal. After getting their gold medals on Aug. 10, they had less than two months to get ready for training camp with the Los Angeles Lakers.
While they should be applauded for their patriotism, some have been concerned about how their Olympic commitment could affect their health and energy during the upcoming NBA season. That concern is especially valid for James, who is 39 years of age and going into his 23rd NBA season.
Dr. Rajpal Brar, a physical therapist and strength and conditioning specialist who runs Los Angeles-based 3CB Performance, broke down how the Lakers’ superstar duo will need to navigate the rest of the summer and this upcoming season in order to minimize fatigue.
He said James and Davis currently have a high level of fitness since they’re fresh off of the Summer Games, which will make it easier for them to get in shape for training camp. However, their ramp-up to peak NBA game conditioning and intensity will need to be curtailed during the early stages of the season to prevent the type of fatigue that would be detrimental.
That may have to mean limiting their playing time, especially for James.
An example Dr. Brar mentioned is Lakers guard Austin Reaves. Reaves played for Team USA last summer in the FIBA World Cup, which meant he didn’t really have an offseason he could use for rest and recovery. As a result, he had a couple of stretches during the first few months of the season where he struggled mightily with his 3-point shot, which is a telltale sign of fatigue for NBA players.
Overall, it worked out for Reaves, as he remained healthy, played in all 82 games and improved his scoring, rebounding and assists averages. Only time will tell if James and Davis will avoid injury and continue to play at an elite level during the 2024-25 season.