LeBron James Explains Why He Stepped Away from Lakers for ‘Personal Reasons’

The basketball star, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, missed two games over an eight-day stretch away from the team

LeBron James. Photo: Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty

LeBron James is taking each day as it comes, two weeks before he turns 40.

On Sunday, Dec. 15, that meant returning to the Los Angeles Lakers after missing two games over a period of eight days — and speaking out about how he came to terms with giving up on his plan to play all 82 games this season.

“If it was up to just me, I probably would’ve played,” he told reporters on Sunday, following the Lakers 116-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. “It would’ve been hard to keep me away from it. I have a team and I got to listen to them as well. They look out for my best interest.”

Amid a shooting slump that at one point included going 0-20 from 3-point range and a sore foot, James took advantage of the team not advancing in the NBA Cup — which they won last year — and having only two games during a 10-day stretch.

LeBron James.Ronald Martinez/Getty

“I had an opportunity to take more days and get my mind, body and everything where I wanted it to be for tonight,” James said. “And it worked out.”

He added about his time off: “A lot of rehabbing, a lot of training still to make sure that I was ready to go tonight. Didn’t want to get too much out of shape.”

It showed on Sunday with an 18 point, 8 rebound, 8 assist and 2 block performance in 34 minutes.

Earlier this month, James opened up about his shooting slump.

“It’s the rhythm. I just feel off rhythm the last few, three or four games,” James said at the time.

When pressed about what methods he intends to use to get his game back on track, the Lakers star replied, “Work. Just work. That’s all.”