The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly looking to play superstar small forward LeBron James around 32 minutes per game for the rest of the season, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

The Lakers are 6.5 games out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 17 games left. James signed a four-year deal with Los Angeles in the summer. The King is 34 years old and has played in eight-straight NBA Finals.

Giving LeBron some rest is the smart thing to do moving forward since he has so many miles on his body and the Lakers are not going to make the playoffs.

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A source close to James told ESPN the team is looking at a 32-minute limit, but that will be an advisement, not a hard limit. James will have the leeway to play longer to finish out a competitive game should he choose, rather than be controlled by a hard cap.

In his first season with the Lakers, LeBron James is averaging 27.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game. The four-time MVP is shooting 51.2 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from beyond the arc and 66.2 percent from the free-throw line.

LeBron has 27 double-doubles and six triple-doubles on the season. The Lakers are 24-23 with James in the lineup.