Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James is reportedly unhappy with having been left out of the side for the defeat to former club Miami Heat on Saturday night.

James missed his first game of the NBA season as coach David Blatt decided to rest the 11-time all-star, in a decision allegedly settled upon in advance and against the wishes of James himself.

According to Cleveland.com, the Cavs have devised a schedule which allows them to rest their key player from time to time in a bid to keep the 30-year-old fresh for the possibility of another post-season run, but without him missing too many regular season games.

However, the report claims that James "was not thrilled with the concept" of voluntarily sitting out fixtures when he considers himself fully fit.

James is thought to have agreed to the scheme only because he is intending on making a sixth consecutive NBA Finals appearance, and after missing a career-high 13 games last season he is aware that he may not be able to play a part every night as he did earlier in his career.

The Cavaliers are currently top of the Eastern Conference central division, a mere half a game ahead of the Chicago Bulls.