Andre Drummond believes reaching 10,000 career rebounds would cement his place as the best rebounder in NBA history, with the Chicago Bulls center closing in on the milestone.

Drummond has 9,968 total rebounds to his name following the Bulls' 124-104 defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder in their 2023-24 season opener on Thursday.

Having led the NBA in rebounds four times in 11 seasons, Drummond looks certain to reach five figures in the coming weeks, with just 32 more required. 

A struggle for regular minutes has limited Drummond's chances of climbing the NBA's all-time rebounding charts, topped by legendary duo Wilt Chamberlain (23,924) and Bill Russell (21,620).

However, Drummond has previously claimed to be the best rebounder in league history, a belief he reiterated when asked about the importance of hitting the milestone. 

"It puts a lot in perspective for myself and just for the public," Drummond told Stats Perform. "I always tell everybody I feel like I'm the best ever to do it.

"Despite me having – or being about to have – 10,000 rebounds, I think my body of work and my percentages and numbers help prove that.

"Honestly, it just shows the amount of work I put in. Every year I set a goal to be the best rebounder, each and every season.

"To have the honour of reaching 10,000… not too many people have the chance to do that. So I am with a group of high-calibre guys."

Drummond led the league for rebounds in 2015-16 and in three successive seasons between 2017-18 and 2019-20. His 2017-18 average of 16 per game remains his best across a single regular season.

The 30-year-old – who finished Chicago's first game of the new season with five rebounds – has the highest total rebound percentage in NBA history (24.85%).

While Drummond believes his statistics put him right up there with the very best, he also feels honoured to simply be mentioned alongside the likes of Chamberlain and Russell.

"To be associated with Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, it's a no-brainer not to feel good about yourself," he added.

"Those are the guys who paved the way for guys like myself; strong, brute-force players that do all the dirty work for teams. To be in the same breath as those guys is truly an honour."

Andre Drummond believes London would be a "good place" to move an NBA team and feels now is the right time to expand the league.

The NBA has introduced an in-season tournament for the new campaign, with the Final Four set to be played in Las Vegas in December, leading to some reports the NBA could be looking to expand and place a new team in the Nevada city.

Across the Atlantic, London has also been touted as a potential home to a new franchise.

The NBA last expanded in 2004, taking the number of teams up to 30, and Drummond says it is time to expand again, with London one of the locations the Chicago Bulls center highlighted as a fitting place to put a new team, citing the travel of football teams playing in Europe as an example of how it could work.

"I think it's time [to expand]," Drummond told Stats Perform. "We should do it.

"Even London, because London is close enough. London is like an eight-hour flight. So London will probably be a good place to have a team.

"How far do soccer players travel for games? If they can do it, why can't we? Then we'll be able to shorten the season and then have no more 82-game [campaigns]. Think about it."

London aside, Drummond pointed to Las Vegas and Seattle as ideal locations for new franchises.

Seattle has not had a team since the SuperSonics, winners of the 1979 NBA championship, were moved to Oklahoma City following the 2007-08 season.

"I think we do so much stuff in Vegas already," Drummond added. "Why not just give them a team?

"We bombard their city for almost two months every year, so we might as well put a team there.

"I think Seattle should get the team back. I think their fan base is crazy. I mean, I missed it. I came in two years after but just watching their games there was wild."

The decision to bring in an in-season tournament has split opinion, and Drummond is unsure if there was a need for its introduction, though he says he and his Bulls team-mates are going to take it seriously.

Asked for his views on the tournament, Drummond replied: "I still don't understand it to be honest. I have no idea what it's about.

"Everybody gets a big trophy if you get to the final. So, I guess it gives us an incentive to not have star players sit out because we're playing for something now.

"I think everybody has the mindset to want to win. I don't think anybody is going to take this tournament lightly, there is a big incentive, and we all get something out of it, so why not play?

"We're already doing it so we might as well just play to the best of our ability."

Andre Drummond says it would be a "no-brainer" if LeBron James asked him to join a potential 'Dream Team' for the 2024 Olympics.

Ahead of the Games in Paris next year, James has reportedly been recruiting fellow NBA stars to gauge their interest in suiting up for the United States with the aim of winning a fifth straight men's basketball gold medal for their country.

Drummond was part of the team that won gold at the 2014 FIBA World Cup but was left off the roster for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics and looks an outside shot to be involved in Paris.

However, if James were to call, it would be an easy answer, with Drummond telling Stats Perform: "Yeah, I would go back, I wouldn't think twice. I'll go back.

"Not even just him [James], if anybody from that organisation called me, I would jump because I feel like I owe it to them and I owe it to my country. If I'm requested to service my country, I'm going to do it.

"Especially just the relationship that I have with those people in that organisation. That's a no-brainer.

"Wearing those three letters across the chest is an honour. You're not representing yourself anymore, you are representing the entire nation and it's a surreal thing."

Drummond was left out of the squads for the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, both of which ended with youthful USA teams returning home without a medal.

The Chicago Bulls center believes it is difficult for younger players to adapt to playing overseas.

Drummond also feels the rise of international stars such as Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the NBA exhibits how other countries are improving their national teams, meaning the USA are no longer a dominant force.

"It's a lot different," Drummond explained. "I feel like if you've never played overseas before, and you have never played in front of a hostile crowd, it can become a lot.

"There's a lot that goes into Olympic basketball, and I think nowadays, the international teams have gotten a lot better. If we're all being honest here, I think the players that have come into the NBA have shown that international players are here now. This is their time to showcase themselves.

"So, I don't think any international teams are going to take it lightly on the USA, especially after what we've done to people, year in and year out."

LeBron James said it was an "easy" decision to play beyond a planned limit to his gametime after helping the Los Angeles Lakers to Thursday's come-from-behind victory over the Phoenix Suns.

The Lakers had planned to limit James' time on court to around 30 minutes per game in the early stages of the season, with the NBA's all-time leading scorer having missed a total of 111 games since joining the team in 2018, most of them through injury. 

James played just 29 minutes – well below his 2022-23 average of 35.5 per game – as the Lakers began the new season with a 119-107 defeat against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.

Head coach Darvin Ham suggested that would become the norm, but with the Lakers trailing the Suns by 12 points going into the fourth quarter, he was forced to rethink that plan.

Following a conversation with Ham, the four-time NBA champion played the entire fourth quarter and led the Lakers to a 100-95 victory, ensuring they avoided a 0-2 start to 2023-24.

James ended the game with 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in 35 minutes, and he had no hesitation in staying out there to get Los Angeles back in the contest. 

"He [Ham] asked me if I could go the [whole] quarter, and I looked at the time and the score and what was going on in the game, and it was an easy answer for myself," James said after the win.

"I know how much work I've put in to be able to play quarters or whatever the case may be.

"I understand that we definitely have a system in place, but tonight called for me to go outside the box."

The Lakers outscored Kevin Durant's Suns 28-11 in the fourth, with James racking up 10 points alone, vindicating Ham's decision to leave the 38-year-old on the floor.

"We were dragging our feet there for the better part of the first half, and things weren't clicking," Ham said. "He [James] has that spirit, that intensity to put the team on his shoulders. 

"I had timeouts to play with, so I went to him, I said, 'How we feeling? What do we want to do?' 

"He answered my question and you guys saw the results. So we used a couple of our timeouts to get him some breathers."

James' team-mate Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 30 points after going scoreless through the second half against Denver last time out. 

That performance led to Davis receiving fierce criticism from some quarters, but James made it clear that Los Angeles were not affected by the noise surrounding the eight-time All-Star.

"We don't give a s*** about criticism of AD," James said. "We don't care. Nothing bothers us. AD doesn't care. I don't know if guys have figured that out. 

"AD does not care. He's not on social media, so he doesn't see none of it. He rarely talks, unless it's to us, so we don't give a s*** about it, and he definitely doesn't. 

"He just goes out and does his job, and we're happy to have AD."

Damian Lillard did not take long to prove why he was such a hot commodity over the offseason, scoring 39 points in his debut for Milwaukee to lead the Bucks over the Philadelphia 76ers 118-117.

After spending 11 years as a Portland Trail Blazer, Lillard slipped seamlessly into his new surroundings as he sparked a game-clinching run down the stretch.

The Bucks led by as much as 19 earlier in the game, but Philadelphia were able to regroup to put their nose in front early in the fourth quarter.

However, Lillard took it upon himself to restore Milwaukee’s advantage, a crucial three kickstarting an 11-0 run that gave the Bucks a nine-point lead with just under three minutes remaining.

Philadelphia again rallied to bring the margin back to two, but another three and two clutch free throws from Lillard was ultimately enough to clinch the win for the hosts.

Lillard’s 39 points was the most for any player in their Bucks debut, while Giannis Antetokounmpo added 23 points and 13 rebounds to become the franchise’s career leader in made field goals.

Tyrese Maxey’s 31 points led the way for Philadelphia in the absence of James Harden.

Meanwhile, LeBron James got the better of Kevin Durant as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns 100-95.

Durant did everything he could to get the Suns over the line, scoring 39 points from 39 minutes on the floor.

But the Lakers stormed home in the fourth quarter, overturning a 12-point deficit to record their first win of the season.

James scored 21 for the Lakers to go along with 30 from Anthony Davis.

Damian Lillard scored 14 of his 39 points in a sensational Bucks debut and Milwaukee recovered after blowing a 19-point lead in a 118-117 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday.

Liilard made all 17 of his free-throw attempts and set a record for the most points by a player in his Bucks debut, surpassing Terry Cummings’ 34 points in 1984.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 23 points and 15 rebounds as the Bucks won in Adrian Griffin’s head coaching debut.

Griffin was facing his former boss after spending the past five seasons as an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors under Nick Nurse, who now coaches the 76ers.

Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 27 for Philadelphia, which played without seven-time All-NBA guard James Harden, who hopes to be traded and was told not to accompany the team to Milwaukee.

Lillard spent his first 11 seasons in Portland and was dealt to the Bucks last month after requesting a trade.

His 3-pointer with 3:41 left put the Bucks ahead for good at 105-104, and he sank another 3 with 73 seconds remaining to make it 116-111.

James takes over late in Lakers’ win

LeBron James scored 10 of his 21 points while playing the entire fourth quarter and the Los Angeles Lakers surged past the short-handed Phoenix Suns, 100-95.

Anthony Davis had 30 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who rallied from a 12-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to earn their first win of the season.

Kevin Durant had 39 points and 11 rebounds for a Phoenix team without injured stars Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

The Suns held an 84-72 lead entering the fourth quarter but missed 13 of their next 14 shots and committed 10 turnovers in the next 10 minutes.

The NBA has begun investigating whether James Harden’s absence from the Philadelphia 76ers’ season opener is a violation of the league’s new player participation policy.

The Sixers could be fined up to $100,000 if there is no approved reason for Harden to miss Thursday’s 118-117 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks – a nationally televised game.

Last offseason, the league issued a new participation policy to crack down on healthy players opting out of regular-season games, especially marquee matchups broadcast on ABC, ESPN or TNT.

“We're looking into the facts around James Harden's availability tonight to determine whether an approved reason exists for his lack of participation,” NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said in a statement.

Harden returned from a 10-day excused absence earlier this week and was told to report to the team’s practice facility to get into game shape while his teammates opened the season without him.

According to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, Harden tried to board the team flight to Milwaukee but was stopped by a security official and left the airport.

An NBA probe is the latest development in a soured relationship between the 76ers and the 10-time All-Star.

In late June, Harden picked up his $35.6million player option for the 2023-24 season and then immediately requested a trade.

He could have declined the option and become a free agent but was hoping by exercising his option it would facilitate a trade.

He later blasted team president Daryl Morey in August while in China.

“Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organisation that he’s a part of,” Harden said. “Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organisation that he’s a part of.”

Harden has since reiterated his unwillingness to play for Morey’s Sixers, but by reporting for practice this week, has shown some acknowledgement that his best chance at being traded would be to play well in Philadelphia until a partner is found.

The Los Angeles Clippers – widely considered Harden’s most likely destination – have suspended trade talks with Philadelphia, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday. Wojnarowski went on to report that the Clippers are the only team that has made a “serious offer” for Harden.

The Indiana Pacers and coach Rick Carlisle have agreed to terms on a multiyear contract extension, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Thursday.

Indiana began the third season of Carlisle’s second stint as the team’s head coach with a 143-120 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, giving Carlisle his 897th career win.

He ranks 14th in NBA history with those 897 wins and is second among active coaches behind Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs, who is the league’s all-time leader with 1,366 victories.

Carlisle began his NBA head coaching career in 2001-02 with the Detroit Pistons and was named NBA Coach of the Year that season.

After two seasons with Detroit, Carlisle joined the Pacers and went 181-147 with three playoff appearances in four campaigns. Indiana advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in Carlisle’s first season in charge in 2003-04.

Carlisle was fired after the Pacers missed the playoffs in 2006-07 and worked as a studio analyst for ESPN before the Dallas Mavericks hired him as coach prior to the 2008-09 season.

Carlisle went on to lead Dallas to its first NBA championship in 2011 and posted a 555-478 record in 13 seasons while helping the Mavericks reach the playoffs nine times.

He resigned as Dallas coach in June 2021 and was rehired by the Pacers one week later.

Carlisle, who turns 64 on Friday, is 61-104 since rejoining Indiana as he tries to lead the franchise to its first postseason appearance since 2019-20.

Gregg Popovich felt Victor Wembanyama had a "wonderful outing" in his NBA debut with the San Antonio Spurs.

Luka Doncic inspired the Dallas Mavericks to a 126-119 victory over the Spurs at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, but all eyes were on the 19-year-old first overall draft pick.

Wembanyama was limited by foul trouble throughout the night and had to step out of the game during stages of the third and fourth quarters.

He ultimately played for 23 minutes and was able to finish with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including some standout moments in the closing stages as he returned to the court for the final seven minutes.

The Frenchman added five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. He connected with three of his five attempts from 3-point range.

"One of the toughest things for a player is you get into foul trouble," Spurs coach Popovich said after the game, per ESPN. 

"You never get in a rhythm and you are in and out of the game and that sort of thing. 

"So, I thought his maturity showed even at a young age where he came in with the last seven minutes and just played.

"We ran some stuff for him, he executed where a lot of guys would have been totally out of it by then because they were in foul trouble and didn't get the rhythm. 

"I thought he had a wonderful outing considering that."

Wembanyama acknowledged the result stopped it from being an ideal evening, but was in an optimistic mood after the loss.

"Lots of emotions for sure, but it would have been perfect with a win," he said. "We are learning and it’s only our first regular season game together.

"It might be frustrating [to be in foul trouble], but always keeping your head up is good for my teammates. I can't show it [frustration] on the court, and we learn every day.

"We're going to watch film and if we notice [issues] on the film, the coaches and ourselves, the players, will make whatever it takes to get better."

Doncic had a triple-double with 33 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, while Kyrie Irving contributed 22 points as Dallas made a winning start.

"It was a hall of fame performance like [Doncic] does almost every night," added Popovich. "He was great. Kyrie wasn't bad either. So, the two future hall of famers got us."

San Antonio is back in action at home to the Houston Rockets on Friday and Doncic, who relished the challenge of facing Wembanyama on his debut, has no doubt the Spurs phenom will thrive in the NBA.

Doncic said: "It was fun. We knew the whole building was going to be loud and everything.

"This is probably one of the best prospects to enter the NBA, so it was fun. For me personally, I like challenges, so that was a fun challenge.

"He obviously has the size like everybody talks about, but the way he moves for 7-5, 7-6 – I don't know what it is, sorry – but he moves incredibly.

"He moves like a point guard almost. So it's pretty amazing to see him. He's going to have a great future, and it's going to be amazing to watch."

The Mavericks will look to make it two straight wins when they take on the Brooklyn Nets at American Airlines Center on Friday.

The Milwaukee Bucks' blockbuster trade for star point guard Damian Lillard could give them a "new spark" in what promises to be a thrilling race in the NBA's Eastern Conference this season.

That is the view of Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond, who also expects another strong showing from the Boston Celtics following their acquisition of former Buck Jrue Holiday.

Milwaukee brought in seven-time All-Star Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers in arguably the biggest trade of the offseason earlier this month, with the Phoenix Suns also involved in the three-team deal.

Since capturing their second NBA Championship – and first in 50 years – in 2021, the Bucks have endured a frustrating time of things in the postseason, losing in the Eastern Conference semifinals in 2022 before failing to advance beyond the first round last season.

However, the addition of Lillard – who averaged 32.2 points per game in his final year with Portland – has seen Milwaukee touted as genuine contenders to win it all in 2023-24.

The team also agreed a three-year extension with two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo this week, ahead of Thursday's season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Asked about the Bucks' prospects, Drummond told Stats Perform: "I think it'll be interesting, the Bucks acquiring Damien Lillard was a very unique trade for a few reasons because Dame is eager for a championship. 

"I think his mindset now is about being on a contending team alongside one of the best players in the NBA, I think it's going to give them a new spark. 

"I think it will give him a new light to really push hard because I didn't realise, he's a lot older than I am! 

"His window is not as big as mine, so I think he's trying to get it right now and I think that Eastern Conference is going to be tough.

"You've got to pick your poison, when he comes off a pick and roll with Giannis, you're going to trap him and he throws a ball to Giannis, he goes and dunks the ball, or you back up and he shoots the three. I'm looking forward to the matchup and how we plan on defending those guys."

Milwaukee's deal for Lillard involved Holiday being sent to Portland, but the All-Star guard was swiftly traded on to Boston as they look to improve on last season's defeat in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Celtics are expected to be among the Bucks' main rivals in the east this season, and Drummond believes Holiday could even prove an all-round upgrade on modern-day icon Marcus Smart.

"I think that's what Boston was missing actually. Boston was missing a point guard that can do both, defend the ball and score," Drummond said. "I think that's what was missing with Marcus Smart when he was there. 

"He was a great defender, but a very streaky shooter and Drew Holliday is very seasoned, he's been around for a long time and I feel like he just doesn't age. 

"I feel like every time I see him, he looks the same, so whatever he's doing to himself to keep his body right is why he's been around for so long, and he's a trusted point guard."

Luka Doncic played spoiler in number one draft pick Victor Wembanyama’s NBA debut as the Dallas Mavericks eclipsed the San Antonio Spurs 126-119.

After a solid start from the Spurs, the Mavericks were able to rally in the third quarter and hold on to their lead in the home stretch.

Doncic was central in Dallas’ third-quarter effort and finished with a 33-point triple-double.

Wembanyama had two threes in the opening quarter but was slowed by foul trouble until a fourth-quarter flourish lifted him to 15 points to go along with five rebounds.

New recruit Kristaps Porzingis played a pivotal role in seeing the Boston Celtics past the New York Knicks 108-104.

The former Knick combined with Jayson Tatum for 64 points, which included a tiebreaking three-pointer with 90 seconds left on the clock.

RJ Barrett scored 24 points for New York, while Immanuel Quickley added 24 off the bench.

Last season’s finalists the Miami Heat were pushed to their limit in a 103-102 win over the Detroit Pistons.

Miami looked to have victory all but sealed when they took a 19-point lead with nine minutes left.

Detroit were somehow able to claw their way back to within one, but ultimately fell short as Cade Cunningham missed a 30-foot jump shot at the buzzer.

It was also a close result in Brooklyn, where a late burst from Donovan Mitchell pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Nets 114-113.

Mitchell scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, including a go-ahead three in the dying seconds.

A 25-point effort from PJ Washington helped the Charlotte Hornets down the Atlanta Hawks 116-110, and Zion Williamson scored 23 in the New Orleans Pelicans’ 111-104 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Elsewhere, the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers opened their seasons with double-digit victories, while the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Portland Trail Blazers and the Toronto Raptors scraped past the Minnesota Timberwolves 97-94 in a low-scoring affair.

Victor Wembanyama scored 15 points in his much-anticipated NBA debut, but Luka Doncic took over down the stretch in the Dallas Mavericks’ 126-119 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

Wembanyama scored his first NBA points with a 3-pointer at the 8:25 mark of the first quarter and added another 3 with under two minutes left in the opening quarter.

The 7-foot-4 phenom scored nine points in the final seven minutes after struggling with foul trouble in the fourth quarter.

He went 6 of 9 from the field with five rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in 23 minutes.

Doncic was cleared to play an hour before tipoff after being listed as questionable with a left calf sprain and 33 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists for his 57th career triple-double.

Doncic converted a three-point play with 2:19 remaining to put Dallas ahead 118-117 and Kyrie Irving answered Devin Vassell’s two free throws with a 3-pointer with 1:51 to play.

Doncic then stole the ball from Jeremy Sochan and fed Irving for a layup before sinking a 3 of his own with 30 seconds left to give the Mavs a 126-119 lead.

Irving had 22 points and Grant Williams and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 17 apiece.

Vassell led San Antonio with 23 points and Keldon Johnson had 17 with nine rebounds and seven assists.

Porzingis propels Celtics in debut

Kristaps Porzingis scored 30 points in his Celtics debut and Jayson Tatum added 34 points and 11 rebounds as Boston defeated the New York Knicks 108-104 in the season opener for both teams.

Porzingis, who finished with eight rebounds and four blocks, scored nine straight points down the stretch, including a 3-pointer with 1:29 remaining that snapped a 101-all tie.

He sank two free throws with 29 seconds left and Payton Pritchard also made a pair with 11 seconds to go.

RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley each scored 24 points for the Knicks, who took their first lead of the game with a 13-2 run to open the fourth quarter.

Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder past Bulls

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 31 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Chicago Bulls 124-104 in Chet Holmgren’s long-awaited NBA debut.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored seven points during a 12-0 run late in the third quarter to break open a one-point game.

He finished 12 of 18 from the field with 10 assists and five rebounds.

Holmgren tallied 11 points, four rebounds and three assists in his pro debut. He missed all last season with a foot injury after he was selected second overall in the 2022 draft.

DeMar DeRozan led Chicago with 20 points.

LeBron James may have lost some explosiveness due to his injury struggles, but Andre Drummond believes the NBA's all-time leading scorer is as good as ever and can excel again this season.

James and the Los Angeles Lakers began their 2023-24 campaign with a defeat on Tuesday, with the Denver Nuggets opening their first-ever NBA title defence with a 119-107 win.

The four-time NBA MVP scored a team-high 21 points while shooting 10-of-16, also adding five assists and eight rebounds, but his limited time on court was the major talking point after the game.

James played just 29 minutes in Los Angeles' 2023-24 opener, with the team looking to manage his workload over the coming weeks after he missed 27 games with a foot injury last season.

With James into his 21st season in the league, Drummond – who played alongside the 38-year-old during a brief spell with the Lakers in 2021 – says his game may have changed, but not necessarily for the worse.

Asked what fans should expect from James this season, Drummond told Stats Perform: "Well, if he's anything like he's been the past couple of years, I guess the same thing.

"He's still averaging 25 points, still playing 30-plus minutes, and it looks like he hasn't slowed down. Well, I feel like he's lost a step, but he's still him, he's still him at the end of the day. 

"He's still the same player, he's still able to be aggressive and get to the basket. 

"Is he dunking over people all the time as he used to? No. But is he playing smarter now? Yeah, I think he's still just as good.

"LeBron James has been special for the NBA from the first day he came in, the amount of things that he's done for the community, not only just for basketball, but for his community and for every city he's been in… you have to respect the guy that does that."

Reflecting on his time as a team-mate of LeBron's, Drummond said the opportunity to see how the four-time NBA Champion prepared for games was invaluable.

"He's somebody I got a chance to play alongside, so to have that opportunity to see his greatness up close is something I didn't take for granted," Drummond said.

"It puts a lot in perspective, because when you see this guy do the things he does in games, you're like, 'I wonder what he does when he's not playing'. 

"I always talk about preparation with guys and his preparation, what he does and how he takes care of his body, how hard he works each and every day, really shows why he's one of the best players to step on this court.

"I just have a lot of respect for him. It was an honour for me to be alongside him and see him be him. I wish we got more time together, but it was definitely excellent playing alongside him.

"I asked him what he does with his body because I'm in year 12 now, and obviously your body starts to break down, you start feeling it more when you get hurt, it lasts a little bit longer. 

"I've been blessed to not be hurt severely. I've had bumps and bruises but nothing crazy. 

"I definitely asked him what he does when he's not playing, how he takes care of his body and some of the things he does to keep himself engaged when he's not on the court."

James is the oldest player in the NBA. The Lakers star will now have his eye on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record for the highest scoring average managed by the league's oldest player in any season (23.4 points in 1985-86, when Abdul-Jabbar turned 39).

While 30-year-old center Drummond clearly respects James' longevity, he will only continue his own career for as long as he feels able to make a valuable contribution.

"Playing as long as I have now is a blessing," Drummond added.

"I feel like I'm going to play as long as I can, until I just feel like I don't need to anymore, or I'm not as serviceable. 

"I don't want to be someone that isn't playing, I have a family that I would rather hang out with than sit on the bench. I'll play until I'm not playing any more, or I'm not being played any more."

LeBron James understands the Los Angeles Lakers' plan to manage his time on court in the coming weeks, with head coach Darvin Ham hoping it gets the best out of the four-time NBA MVP.

James played just 29 minutes as the Lakers opened their 2023-24 campaign with a 119-107 defeat to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, with Nikola Jokic recording his 106th career triple-double for the reigning NBA champions.

Four-time NBA champion James added five assists to his team-high 21 points, but he saw his gametime limited despite the Lakers remaining competitive until late on, cutting Denver's lead to three points in the fourth quarter.

The 38-year-old averaged 35.5 minutes per game last season, his second-highest figure in five years with the Lakers, though that appeared to take its toll as he missed 27 games with a right foot injury.

James has missed a total of 111 games since joining the Lakers in 2018, most of them due to injury. While the NBA's all-time leading scorer always wants to be involved, he understands the benefits of managing his workload.

"Listen, I always want to be on the floor, especially when you've got an opportunity to win a game or you feel like you can make an impact," James said after Tuesday's defeat.

"But this is the system in place, and I'm going to follow it."

Asked whether he was surprised by his limited time on court, James clarified: "No, I'm not surprised. I talked to the coach and we had a game plan going into Game 1. I'm not surprised or upset."

With James approaching his 39th birthday and the likes of Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura providing the Lakers with depth, coach Ham says fans should expect more of the game.

"It's easy with him to get caught up in the emotion of the game, and you tend to forget you want to play these long stretches," Ham said of James.

"But in order for him to be as effective as possible, we have to be mindful of the minute output and how long his stretches are.

"It's going to be a day-by-day process, gauging how he's feeling, getting communication from him, our training staff, our medical staff."

Despite the defeat, James was satisfied with aspects of his own performance and does not believe he needs to adjust his game to the new role.

"Besides the fact that we didn't win, I think my performance and what I did individually in the time that I was out there… I think I was productive," James said.

"I mean, I was a plus-7 for the game. No turnovers. I like the no turnovers more than anything."

The Lakers are back in action on Thursday, with the Phoenix Suns visiting Crypto.com Arena.

The Philadelphia 76ers won’t have James Harden on the court during their season-opening two-game road trip as the 10-time All-Star will remain at the team’s practice facility and attempt to get into game shape, according to multiple reports.

It’s just another chapter in the saga of Harden, who in August blasted team president Darly Morey at a promotional event in China.

"Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of," Harden said. "Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar, and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of."

Harden's comments were a response to the 76ers telling Harden's agent that Morey was unable to find a trade for the 2017-18 NBA MVP, and the franchise wouldn't deal him unless it could find a trade that would help Philadelphia contend for a championship.

Harden picked up his $35.6million player option for the 2023-24 season in late June, and then immediately requested a trade.

He could have declined the option and become a free agent but was hoping by exercising his option it would facilitate a trade.

Harden reiterated his stance earlier this month, saying his relationship with Morey is beyond repair and he still wants to be traded.

Harden returned to the team Wednesday after being away for a “personal matter” and not practicing since October 15. He will not play in Thursday’s season opener at the Milwaukee Bucks and Saturday in Toronto against the Raptors.

It remains to be seen if Harden will take the court for Philadelphia’s home opener against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.