LeBron James isn’t superhuman, he just plays like he is.
The Chosen One has demolished opposing defenses on a nightly basis for over a decade. We’ve grown accustomed to it. Expect it. Assume it’s going to happen every second of every game.
Understandably, all of us who don’t hate the greatest NBA player alive—sorry, MJ—were perturbed by King James’ recent admission that he had been coping with lower-back pain since the beginning of the season.
LeBron? Hurt? Call the paramedics. Alert the authorities. Get him a police escort to the nearest physician. No, not the nearest Drake concert. That was last time. This is a Code Red, not a Code We Started From the Bottom Now We’re Here.
Reactions along the same lines were totally acceptable. We’re not used to seeing LeBron show or cop to weakness. He’s never missed more than seven regular-season games in an entire season and only been absent for more than five three times. Fearing for his safety more than 10 years, 772 games and 30,600 minutes later is to be expected.
But don’t you dare go comparing him to Dwyane Wade, the glass vase that could.
Where LeBron has constantly toiled with perfect attendance, Wade has played in more than 70 games just five times. And he’s missed more than 20 in four separate seasons. He’s what LeBron could’ve been—if LeBron was an injury-prone shooting guard with bum knees.
Fortunately, LeBron has always been LeBron, and King James doesn’t plan to stop powering through now. When asked how he was feeling on Monday, LeBron indicated that he prepared to play Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks. In fact, he was pretty adamant about not regressing into the second-coming of Wade.
“I’m active tomorrow,” he said smiling, according to Bleacher Report’s Ethan J. Skolnick “Stop trying to treat me like D-Wade around here.”
See? LeBron has jokes. Either that, or he’s harboring some resentment for Wade’s inability to remain healthy. Perhaps he’s still fuming at his partner’s postseason performance from last spring, where knee injuries reduced him to a fumbling passive version of himself.
Let’s go with the first one; LeBron was clearly joking. Makes for a more pleasant read and it’s clearly the truth.
Although, it got me thinking: what if LeBron wasn’t LeBron? What if he wasn’t a bull? A poster child for durability? What if he was as fragile as the day is long? What then?
Upon ushering these thoughts into my head, I completely dismiss them. Can’t waste time thinking about that. LeBron is LeBron, so we cannot trouble ourselves with the burdens of the unknown.
Fortunately, LeBron has avoided serious injury and been able to play through whatever is ailing him until now. One day, when he’s old or fresh off a spelunking incident, that could change. There may come a time when his minutes must be limited or when he needs to be put on a rest and relaxation schedule—just not now.
Until further notice, expect LeBron to play. Against the Bucks, the Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Bobcats and Atlanta Hawks. Against everyone. Always.
Leave the resting, relaxing and “are you going to play questions” to the elderly. Or, you know, Wade himself.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
