After missing more than a week, Los Angeles Lakers forward and NBA all-time leading scorer LeBron James returned to the team Sunday night.
James had 18 points in 34 minutes of action and led the Lakers with eight assists in the 116-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Speaking to the media after the game, James noted that he had to be convinced to take time off.
“If it was up to just me, I probably would’ve played. 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,” James said via ESPN.
Before the season, James, the NBA’s oldest active player, made it his goal to appear in all 82 games. He’s accomplished that feat just once in his career, not missing a game in the 2017-18 season for the Cleveland Cavaliers. James missed the past week with a sore left foot.
Despite the week away from the team, James only missed a pair of games. The Lakers failed to advance in the NBA Cup, meaning they had a light schedule, something James took advantage of.
“I had an opportunity to take more days and get my mind, body and everything where I wanted it to be for tonight. And it worked out,” James noted.
James is the NBA’s active games-played leader with 1,516, which ranks him fifth all-time. He will pass Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki in the next few weeks to move to fourth place. Nowitzki finished his career with 1,522 games played.
So far this season, James has averaged 22.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game.
James and the Lakers return to action Thursday when they face the Sacramento Kings.
[ESPN]
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