LeBron James said the wildfires that killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes took a toll on his mental health.
James’ Los Angeles Lakers had lost three straight before beating the Miami Heat at home on Wednesday night, and James admitted the fire had affected him personally. “I have some dear friends who lost their homes in the Palisades,” James said. “Obviously the fire is heartbreaking for all the families, not just in the Palisades, but in Los Angeles County and surrounding areas. … There’s been a lot of emotion. I’m kind of off. Personally, took a break.
“I took a complete break for obvious reasons, but I hope that things settle down or continue to settle down. And hopefully, at some point, we can move on, move on and put it behind us. I hope that we can rebuild our city and rebuild this beautiful city.”
The fire disrupted the Lakers’ schedule, forcing the team to take a six-day layoff before resuming play on Monday, and the team’s coach, JJ Reddick, also lost his home in the fire. James said he hopes the team can bring some peace of mind to the city.
“If we go out on the floor and play like we played tonight, we can help the Lakers as a franchise and our players, hopefully, in the months and years to come until the city gets back on its feet. “Playing for the Lakers gives me hope and pride and excitement,” James said. “Sports have always given people an opportunity to temporarily forget what they’ve been through, and while we are a big part of the Los Angeles community, like many other sports teams, we can’t help but think about how important the Lakers are to the community. I want to be able to provide that to as many families as possible.”
After the game, James took the time to hand one of the wristbands to a girl sitting courtside. He said he hopes these actions will help the city as a whole.
“I think it’s something she’ll never forget,” James said. “I’m so happy to be a part of her life now and to be a part of those little moments, but so big moments, and hopefully she’ll be proud of it at school.”
