The NBA’s grueling 82-game regular season pushes players to their physical and mental limits, with the playoffs demanding an even higher level of intensity. Every player on the court gives their all for 48 minutes, but injuries and exhaustion often plague teams by the postseason’s start. To address this, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James recently proposed a bold solution to better prepare players for the playoff grind.
“If they’re going to allow it to be as physical as it is, you’ve got to give us a little time to prepare for it,” James said. “…Maybe 12 to 15 games left in the regular season. Like a month. Give us a month to prepare for it. Because it goes from zero to 100.”
The postseason physicality is a different beast.
A new episode breaking down 2025 playoff trends is out now. Watch on our YouTube, @PrimeVideo or listen wherever you get your podcasts: https://t.co/LxAkIAMl6q pic.twitter.com/8FnACB1LWS
— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) May 27, 2025
At 40 years old, James, a veteran of the game, likely feels the toll of the season more than most and sees a month-long break as a way to ensure players are ready for the playoff intensity. However, not everyone in the league agrees with his radical idea.
Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green, known for his candid takes, offered a counterproposal that challenges James’ suggestion. “I know Bron talked about there being a month off before the playoffs; I don’t know that that’s possible,” Green said. “A, guys will get a bit out of shape and can have an adverse effect, guys getting back in, and all of a sudden, you pull something because it’s been a month.”
Green, instead, proposed a more practical solution: a two-week break. “So I don’t know if a month is the right answer, but two weeks – ain’t no NBA player getting out of shape in two weeks, but you can get a lot healthier in two weeks,” he explained.
The debate highlights a critical issue in the NBA: the need for better playoff scheduling to prioritize player health and performance. While James’ month-long hiatus aims to give players ample recovery time, Green’s two-week pause strikes a balance between rest and maintaining game readiness. As the league considers its options, finding a solution that benefits players and preserves the quality of playoff basketball remains a top priority.