Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers to sit LeBron James Until Preseason Finale

Another year, another NBA season for 14-year veteran LeBron James. He has continuously taken part in the NBA’s preseason as a way to get his body and groove back on track for an upcoming season. This year, James played limited minutes in just two Cleveland Cavaliers preseason contests, and looked in midseason form.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have announced they will rest LeBron James for three straight games prior to the preseason finale. James will watch from the sidelines against Atlanta, Toronto, and Chicago, before returning against Washington a week before the regular season opener against New York on October 25.

Between the two preseason games he took part in, James finished with 22 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and two steals in about 30 minutes of play.

Although “King James” is still in his prime and playing at an All-Star level, Tyronn Lue and the Cleveland Cavaliers are attempting to preserve his 31-year-old body for as long as possible. His career-low 35.6 minutes per game in 2015-16 proved this method. Grinding through more than 47,000 minutes in his regular season and playoffs career, his body has been through hell.

LeBron James has never been the type of player to miss a ton of games–he averaged less than five games missed per year–but at 31-years old, he’s certainly feeling the last thirteen professional seasons, regardless of the tremendous shape he maintains.