LeBron James has spent more time on an NBA court than any player in league history, and the milestones continue to pile up in his 23rd season.
The Los Angeles Lakers star will celebrate his 41st birthday on December 30, and he is preparing to make his 20th appearance on one of the NBA's most high-profile stages, Christmas.
With four championships, countless records and all-time scoring records under his belt, James has made it clear that longevity is no longer the driving force behind his career.
What still drives him is the game itself, even if it comes at the expense of family vacation time.
“I'd rather be at home with my family,” James said, via Spectrum SportsNet. “But it's the game, it's the game I love, it's the game I watched on Christmas Day as a kid and it's always been a privilege to watch a lot of the greatest games on Christmas Day. Obviously, I'll be completely honest, I want to sit on the couch with my family all day long. 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' 20th Christmas game, with 11 wins. This is already the most wins for a player in league history, and he also set a record for the most points scored with 507 points.
But with one more victory, James would become the player or coach with the most Christmas Day wins in history – beating Phil Jackson and Jack Ramsey, who each have 11 wins.
The Lakers are scheduled to take on the Houston Rockets in Los Angeles, a small but meaningful detail that will allow players to stay close to their families before and after the game.
Even so, James acknowledges the reality of sacrifice, balancing personal priorities and professional responsibilities.
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