Entering the 2023-24 season, then-Lakers head coach Darvin Ham was adamant about restricting LeBron James' minutes to save the aging forward's legs for the business end of the season and playoffs.
Ham was particularly confident in this approach after the Lakers made the 2023 Western Conference Finals riding on the growth of players such as Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura.
Ham and his staff were rational in that approach. James was not a happy camper being placed on a minute restriction. In the debut episode of the "Starting 5" documentary on Netflix, James can be seen cussing out Ham and his staff for pulling him out of a game and disallowing him to get his rhythm going.
"I know y'all have got me on old man time percentage and [expletive] — play eight minutes [per quarter] and [expletive]," James told Ham's staff. "Two shots in 8 minutes just getting cardio. I hate this [expletive] already, just garbage."
While reviewing the clip, James said he's had "battles" with many of his coaches but prefers if they would acquiesce to his wishes. "I get it [minutes restriction], but also understand me. And I get me. There's nobody who gets me more than me," he said.
The game in question took place on the opening night of the 2023-24 season. James played just 29 minutes in a 119-107 loss to the Nuggets.
After the loss, Ham reiterated that James would remain on a 30-minute restriction. However, the star forward would play 35 minutes in the second game against the Suns, averaging 35.3 minutes for the season. In other words, James got his way.
It remains to be seen if Ham's successor, JJ Redick, endures similar "battles" with the all-time leading scorer.
