LeBron James at the Limit: Close to Losing Eligibility for Individual Awards
NBA legend LeBron James finds himself in an unprecedented situation in his career. On the verge of exceeding the limit of missed games in the regular season, he is one step away from being ineligible for the end-of-year awards.
With 17 games lost in the current season, James, 41 years old, is one game away from not meeting the league requirement, which demands playing at least 65 of the 82 games on the regular season schedule to be eligible for individual awards.
On Wednesday, James was absent from the game against the San Antonio Spurs due to sciatica discomfort, an ailment that also kept him out of the first 14 games of the season. The Lakers forward returned to Los Angeles with the intention of being available for Friday’s duel against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Throughout his previous 21 seasons, LeBron has been selected to an All-NBA team, solidifying himself as one of the most consistent and long-lasting players in league history. This is his number 23 season, an absolute record in the NBA.
Despite physical limitations, James has maintained a high level of play when he’s been on the court. This season he’s averaging 21.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game, being a key player for the Lakers.
The evolution of his physical condition in the upcoming games will be crucial not only for the aspirations of the Los Angeles team, but also to determine if the four-time NBA champion keeps alive his streak of eligibility for the league’s major individual awards.
