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The NBA forward, who was reluctant to take time off to treat a foot injury, returned to action on December 15 to help the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 116-110 after missing two games in eight days.
According to ESPN, James told reporters about his brief absence after the Lakers' victory, "If it was up to just me, I probably would've played." "Keeping me away from it would have been difficult. I also had the opportunity to listen to my team. They watch out for what's best for me.
He added 18 points to the team's final score against the Grizzlies, suggesting that the time away paid off.
"I had the chance to take more days and get my mind, body, and everything where I wanted it to be for tonight,” James continued. “And it worked out.”
"A lot of rehabbing, a lot of training still to make sure that I was ready to go tonight," the basketball veteran, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, said, despite his downtime. didn't want to lose my temper too much.
In order to prevent the four-time NBA champion from missing entire games, Lakers coach JJ Redick stated that he would try to give him more breaks in the future.
Redick told reporters during a post-game press conference, according to ESPN, "not necessarily fewer minutes, but shorter runs so that he's not getting gassed and then quicker segments on the bench and then he's back in."
James had previously stated that he wanted to play in every one of the 82 regular season games, but his coach had a more realistic view of the objective.
As Redick told reporters on Dec. 2, ESPN reports, "I don't know that's in the best interest of him and us if he does that, but if he's feeling well and feeling good, then he should play." However, it goes without saying that we wish to... control that as best we can.