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LeBron James on resting: I deserve to get a game off every now and then

Nov 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts with Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova (8) against the New York Knicks during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Should NBA teams bound for the playoffs rest healthy players? It’s been a controversial issue for a few years that has come again recently with teams like the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers sitting healthy stars, including LeBron James.

James, the NBA’s biggest star, chimed in on the matter and wasn’t about to apologize for sitting.

“I’ve played through injuries my whole career,” James said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “So I deserve to get a game [off] every now and then.”

There’s certainly some accuracy there. While LeBron has never played a full 82-game season, he’s never missed an extended period of time, either. Over nearly 14 full seasons, plus 199 playoff games (roughly 2.5 regular seasons), it’s safe to say that he’s played through some bumps and bruises.

But to a degree, he does miss the point.

More than any other league, the NBA is star driven. Parents bring their children out to see the league’s stars. LeBron certainly qualifies. When it comes to Western Conference cities, those fans get a chance to see him only once a year.

Most families aren’t rich. Four tickets to an NBA game is not a cheap purchase, and that’s before we factor in parking, food, souvenirs, etc. That money is not paid to see James sitting on the bench in a blazer.

We also have to remember than an NBA season starts in October and runs through mid-June. So, even the players on the best teams get three months to rest. Not many jobs offer that. Not many job offer tens of millions of dollars to their employees on an annual basis, either.

That doesn’t mean it’s not okay for the Cavs to rest him, the Warriors to rest Stephen Curry, or the Spurs to rest Kawhi Leonard. But when they are healthy and rested, they could be a little more sensitive to the problem. So, while LeBron’s statement is accurate, it also falls flat.

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