LeBron James is pushing back on the idea that today's NBA players have it easier when it comes to enduring a full regular-season grind.
On the latest episode of his Mind the Game podcast, the Los Angeles Lakers star explained why he believes playing all 82 games in today's NBA is more demanding than it was during the 1980s and 1990s, pointing to the modern pace, spacing, and physical toll of the game.
"The game is different. I want people and our fans to understand that playing 82 games in the '80s and '90s is not the same as playing 82 games in the 2020s. It's just not," LeBron said. "The way we play, the level of pace, the level of the speed that we're playing at, it's a different game now. It's a totally different game."
James noted that while older eras were known for physicality in the paint, today's NBA places far more stress on players' bodies due to constant movement, quicker transitions, and high-speed play across the entire court. According to LeBron, that shift has also changed the types of injuries players face.
"There's a lot of soft tissue injuries that's happened now because of it," he explained. "I hope we can get a handle on that as well, because that's big in our game."
Reflecting on his early years in the league, LeBron said one of the biggest concerns used to be high ankle sprains, often caused by landing on another player's foot in a crowded lane.
"When I first came into the league, some of the biggest concerns of injuries was a high ankle sprain," he said. "You was afraid to step on somebody's ankle, because there was four or five guys sitting in the paint."
He pointed out that elite athletes like himself, Tracy McGrady, and Vince Carter often had to navigate heavy traffic near the basket, making awkward landings a major risk. Now, with the floor more spread out and teams emphasizing speed and perimeter play, those types of injuries aren't as common, but new ones have taken their place.
"The new high ankle sprain is the calf," LeBron said.
James emphasized that despite the challenges, modern players still want to compete and be on the court as much as possible. His comments come amid ongoing debates around load management, player rest, and whether today's stars sit out more games than past generations.
The league has also seen a wave of significant leg injuries, including several high-profile Achilles tears in recent seasons that have sidelined stars for months and even full years. One recent example is Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has been dealing with a calf strain for the last several weeks, with his return uncertain as of press time.
Antetokounmpo previously missed eight games earlier in December due to a right calf injury, and calf problems have been a recurring concern for him. Strains to his left calf also kept him out of the 2024 playoffs and the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.