The biggest challenge for James at this stage of his career is managing his body through the rigors of the NBA season, and as the 40-year-old gets set for another year in Los Angeles he's already battling a nagging issue with his glute that kept him out of the Lakers ' first practice of training camp.

James is sidelined to open training camp with what Coach JJ Redick calls “a little bit of nerve irritation in the glute,” and the team will ramp him up slower this fall.