Overview

• James revealed that he now gets sick more easily due to lingering immune system impacts from his July 2023 cardiac arrest, leading to occasional missed workouts and loss of conditioning
• Coach JJ Redick has set an ‘elite shape’ requirement as the primary entry barrier for James to earn regular rotation minutes with the Lakers
• Redick cited undersized two-way guards Davion Mitchell and T.J. McConnell as benchmarks for James’s defensive intensity and stamina
• Following strong G League and Summer League showings, James has focused on adding significant muscle to better withstand NBA physicality
• James must also overcome a mental hurdle in pushing his body past fears rooted in his cardiac arrest to reach the next level