LeBron James has spent more time on an NBA court than any player in league history, and as he navigates his 23rd season, the milestones keep stacking up.
Turning 41 on December 30, the Los Angeles Lakers star is preparing to make his 20th appearance on Christmas Day, one of the NBA’s most visible stages.
With four championships, countless records and the all-time scoring mark already secured, James made it clear that longevity alone is no longer the driving force behind his career.
What still fuels him is the game itself, even when it comes at the cost of family time on a holiday.
“I’d much rather be at home with my family,” James said, via Spectrum SportsNet. “But it’s the game, it’s the game that I love, it’s the game I watched when I was a kid on Christmas Day watching a lot of the greatest play the game on Christmas has always been a honor. Obviously, I’m going to be completely honest, I would like to be home on the couch with my family all throughout the day. But my number is called, our number is called, so we have to go out and perform and we’re looking forward to that.”
This will be James’s 20th Christmas game, holding 11 wins – which is already the most by a player in league history, as well as the record for most points at 507.
But another win would put James at the most Christmas Day wins of all-time, by a player or coach – beating out Phil Jackson and Jack Ramsay, who each have 11 victories.
The Lakers are scheduled to host the Houston Rockets in Los Angeles, a small but meaningful detail that allows players to remain close to family before and after tip-off.
Even so, James acknowledged the reality of the sacrifice, balancing personal priorities with professional responsibility.
READ MORE: Steve Kerr Gets Honest About Jonathan Kuminga Trade Situation
