LeBron James coming into this one with the mentality that they can do something – Dave McMenamin

NBA analyst Dave McMenamin reckons LeBron James is coming into the upcoming season with the right mentality and he is hopeful that it will rub on the shoulders of his teammates. James and Co. will be determined to turn the tables in the forthcoming edition after they had failed to even qualify for the play-in tournament in the last season.

McMenamin revealed he recently met the veteran player and he looked in good spirits ahead of the new season. Lakers will once again rely on the shoulders of LeBron James to do most of the lifting but other players like Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook will need to provide him with the necessary support.

James will be playing his 20th season in the NBA and he is still at the top of his fitness. The 37-year-old still has some fuel left in his tank and he will be willing to push himself in the upcoming season.

On, ‘That’s OD, Dave McMenamin said, “Mentally though I will say, I got to spend a little bit of time with him on Monday, he was refreshed,” McMenamin said. “His attitude was great, there was a lightness to him. I’m not saying that just because mental refreshment means that he will be able to stave off the type of things that affect any NBA player, turning an ankle et cetera et cetera.

“But I think that was just a good sign to know that he obviously has two eyes wide open about the situation that this team is in right now. And the characters they have on the roster, and the things they still may need to address.

“But so many people take their cues from LeBron James’s energy when he is an organization, and that is the kind of double-edged Sword of being the guy. It’s great when it’s going good but when it’s going bad, people are looking at you and your bad body language or you rolling your eyes if a play doesn’t go the right way.

“Or you’re being a little less engaged in a film session etc etc. All those things add up, and it’s hard to dig yourself out of that hole if your leader has already kind of written off the season as a loss. He’s coming into this one with the mentality that we can do something, and I think that can go a long way in their development.”

Despite his injury concern, James was in stellar form in the previous season as he averaged 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 56 games in 2021-22. He was also selected to play in his eighteenth All-Star games. However, he could not get the support of his teammates.