As you
all know, LeBron James turned 30 on December 30th. He’s also played a considerably larger amount of minutes at his 30th birthday than Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.
So what does it all mean? His body is starting to feel the toll of all those minutes, as documented by him missing the Cavs’ past two games with leg and back soreness, as well as Friday night’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets.
It will be his third consecutive missed game on Friday, and after being listed as out for the next two weeks, the King will miss around 10-11 games overall retroactive to January 1st.
The reason I chose this photo by LeBron from his Instagram was because it marks something that will be the first in his 12-year career: missing more than five consecutive games in a season. That last happened in 2007-08 during his first stint with Cleveland due to a finger injury.
“Hate being away for the teammates(really sucks!!) but it’s time I listen to my body, my trainer @mikemancias1, the team and the docs finally, get healthy and back to myself! Day 2 of rehab.#NoFunWithoutHoopsandHomies #RehabStinks#StriveForGreatness”.
He’s right, too. And Cleveland needs him at full strength, considering they’re 0-3 without him this year, and have lost two in a row with him gone.
Hopefully James can come back at full strength after the two weeks of rehab and rest, because the league sorely needs him competing at his highest level.
We need the Miami LeBron back, and the Cavs could desperately use that as well.