LeBron blames AAU coaches for overplaying 'kids'

Thanks in large part to the Los Angeles Clippers' management of star forward Kawhi Leonard to start the 2019-20 season, the topic of load management has reemerged as a prevalent topic in today's NBA.

Specifically, the physical deterioration of players that necessitates loads needing to be managed has been placed under a closer microscope.

LeBron James gave his two cents on the matter, pointing a finger at AAU coaches as one of the reasons players enter the league with heavy miles on their odometers.

"These kids are going into the league already banged up, and I think parents and coaches need to know (that)," James said in an interview with Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes.

"... AAU coaches couldn’t give a damn about a kid and what his body is going through," James continued.

The 34-year-old James, who has amassed 46,551 minutes - already the 13th highest total in NBA history - grew up playing on the AAU circuit. The future Hall of Famer's two sons are enrolled in the amateur organization, which provides James a unique perspective of the AAU and its impact.

“I think (AAU) has something to do with it, for sure,” James told Haynes.

“It was a few tournaments where my kids - Bronny and Bryce - had five games in one day and that’s just f---g out of control."

James' support of load management at the AAU level is interesting in the wake of comments he made last week.

"If I'm hurt, I don't play. If not, I'm playing," James said on Friday, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, when asked about the prospect of sitting out games for load management down the stretch.

"That's what has always been my motto."