NBA legend Magic Johnson believes the Lakers' heavy use of load management during the regular season contributed to their disappointing first-round playoff exit against the Denver Nuggets.
The Los Angeles Lakers' early playoff exit has sparked debate about the team's use of load management during the regular season. NBA legend Magic Johnson pointed to load management as a primary reason for the Lakers' failure to advance beyond the first round against the Denver Nuggets.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Johnson wrote, "The Lakers have nobody but themselves to blame. They wouldn’t have been in the play-in game or finished as a 7th seed this season if they hadn’t lost too many games because of load management."
The Lakers got off to a slow start in the regular season, which ultimately resulted in the team's NBA Play-In tournament berth. However, the Lakers' two biggest stars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, did not appear to sit out of games to simply rest, as Johnson suggested.
James, 39, played in almost every game down the stretch, only sitting out three games after March 1 despite dealing with a nagging ankle injury. Meanwhile, Davis played in all but two games over that same time period.
Furthermore, six different players on the Lakers roster appeared in 70 games or more over the course of the 2023-2024 season.
Johnson's comments have reignited the debate over the value of load management. Proponents of load management argue that it helps players stay healthy and reduce the risk of injury. However, critics contend that load management can lead to a lack of rhythm and consistency, which can hinder performance in the playoffs.
The Lakers' disappointing playoff exit has raised questions about the team's long-term future. James has spent the past six seasons of his storied career in Los Angeles, but after Monday's loss, he was noncommittal about his future with the franchise.
"I’m not going to answer that," James told reporters after he was asked if he believed he had played his last game in a Lakers uniform.
"Haven’t given it much thought," he said when asked what he’ll consider when making a decision about his 22nd NBA season. "Obviously, at some point I’ll sit down with Rich, my agent, and sit down with my family and see what’s best for my career. We’ll cross that when we need to."
According to ESPN, James has a June 29 deadline to decide whether to opt into the final year of his contract. If James ends up opting out, he would become an unrestricted free agent for the first time since 2018.
The Lakers' offseason will be filled with uncertainty, as the team tries to figure out how to improve their roster and return to contention next season.
