The NBA’s grueling schedule has long been a topic of debate, with players frequently discussing the toll it takes on their bodies. Recently, LeBron James suggested that the league should implement a month-long break between the regular season and the Playoffs to allow players to recover and prepare for the intensity of postseason basketball. However, Draymond Green has voiced skepticism about the idea, arguing that such a long break could have unintended consequences.
James, who has played in over 280 career playoff games, understands the physical and mental demands of deep postseason runs. His proposal for a month-long break stems from concerns about fatigue, injuries, and overall player health. The Lakers superstar believes that an extended rest period would allow teams to recover from the grind of the regular season, leading to higher-quality basketball in the Playoffs.
On his podcast, Green addressed James’ suggestion, expressing doubts about whether a full month off would be beneficial.
“LeBron talked about there being a month off before the playoffs. I don’t know that that’s possible. Guys could get a bit out of shape, and it could have an adverse effect. Guys, getting back in, all of a sudden, you pull something because it’s been a month,” Green explained.
Instead, Green proposed a two-week break as a more reasonable alternative. He argued that two weeks would allow players to recover without losing their conditioning, preventing injuries caused by sudden inactivity.
“Ain’t no basketball, ain’t no NBA player getting out of shape in two weeks, but you do—you can get a lot healthier in two weeks,” Green added.
Green also highlighted the tight scheduling of playoff games, particularly for teams that go through multiple seven-game series. He pointed to Aaron Gordon’s comments about the difficulty of transitioning from a Game 7 in one series to Game 1 in the next with minimal recovery time.
“I would really, really appreciate it if there were a couple of days in between games in the playoffs instead of every other day. The product of the game would be a lot better. You’ll see a higher level of basketball. Probably less blowouts,” Gordon said.
The Denver Nuggets, for example, had only one day to recover after their first-round Game 7 against the Clippers before facing the Thunder in the second round. This tight turnaround led to fatigue-based injuries, including Steph Curry’s hamstring issue.
While James’ idea of a month-long break aims to improve player health, Green’s concerns about conditioning and injury risks highlight the delicate balance between rest and maintaining competitive rhythm. A two-week break might be a more practical solution, allowing players to recover while staying in peak form.
