Let’s get this out of the way: LeBron James missing the playoffs in his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers was never the plan, nor can it ever be spun in any way as a good thing.
That noted, James has played the 15th-most minutes in NBA history, according to Basketball-Reference, and the second-most among active players (only trailing Dirk Nowitzki).
46,063 NBA minutes over the course of 16 years takes a huge toll on the body, and while James tried to make it clear to reporters following the Lakers’ 124-123 loss to the New York Knicks that he isn’t exactly excited to miss the postseason or chanting “1-2-3, Cancun!