Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is expected to see less action on the court for the 2023-24 NBA season, his 21st campaign in the league.

The NBA's all-time leading scorer only played 29 minutes during the team's opening night game against the Denver Nuggets, which resulted in a 119-107 loss on Tuesday, October 24.

When questioned about the possibility of James' minutes hovering around 30 minutes for the remainder of the season, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham essentially confirmed it, stating, "In all likelihood, yes."

Meanwhile, James appeared to be hesitant about the idea, but he reassured that he would adhere to the "system in place."

"I always want to be on the floor. Especially if you've got an opportunity to win the game or you feel like you can make an impact. But I guess there's a system in place and I'll follow it," the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player said during the post-game interview.

LeBron James always played heavy minutes

Throughout the course of his 21-season career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers and having been the centerpiece of the team for most of it, James has maintained an average of 38.1 minutes per game.

In the 2022-23 season, the four-time NBA champion managed an average of 35.5 minutes of action across 55 games, with impressive statistics of 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game considering his age.