LeBron James says the wildfires that have killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes have taken a toll on his mental health.
His Los Angeles Lakers had lost three games in a row before their home victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night, and James acknowledged the fires had affected him personally. “I have a couple of dear friends that have lost their homes in the Palisades,” James said. “Obviously, my heart goes out to all of the families, all across not only the Palisades, but all across LA county and all the surrounding areas because of the fire. … It’s been a lot of emotions. Kind of been off. Personally, I’ve been off.
“I’ve just been completely off for obvious reasons, but hopefully things are contained or continue to be contained. And hopefully, at some point, we can start to push forward and move forward and put it behind us and rebuild our city, rebuild this beautiful city.”
The fires have disrupted the Lakers’ schedule, with the team forced into a six-day layoff before resuming play on Monday, while the team’s coach, JJ Redick, lost his home to the fires. James said he hopes the team can offer some comfort for the city.
“I hope that by us going out on the floor and us playing the way we played tonight … and hopefully the next few months or whatever it is, years, until the city is back up, that we as a Lakers franchise and the players that are playing for the Lakers give a sense of hope and pride and excitement,” James said. “Sports has always given people an opportunity to temporarily forget about whatever they may have been going through. And us being such a big part of the LA community – along with a lot of other sports teams, but we know how important the Lakers is to the community – hopefully we can provide that to a lot of families.”
James took time after the game to give one of his wristbands to a girl sitting courtside. He said he hopes such gestures will help the city as a whole.
“I think it will be something that hopefully she will never forget,” James said. “I’m happy to be a part of her life now and that small little moment, but such a bigger moment. And hopefully she brags about it in school.”
As one of the greatest basketball players of all time, LeBron James is used to facing challenges on the court. But in a recent interview, the Los Angeles Lakers star opened up about a different kind of struggle he has been facing off the court.
In a candid conversation, James admitted that the wildfires raging across California have taken a toll on his mental health. “I’ve been completely off,” he said, describing the anxiety and stress he has been feeling as the fires continue to ravage the state.
James, who has been an outspoken advocate for social justice issues, also expressed his frustration with the lack of action being taken to address the root causes of the wildfires. “It’s heartbreaking to see the devastation and destruction these fires are causing,” he said. “We need to do more to protect our planet and prevent these disasters from happening.”
Despite the challenges he is facing, James remains determined to use his platform to raise awareness about the impact of climate change and push for action to address the crisis. “We can’t afford to ignore the reality of what’s happening,” he said. “We all need to do our part to protect our planet and ensure a better future for our children.”
As he continues to speak out on this issue, James is also focusing on taking care of his own mental health and finding ways to cope with the stress of the wildfires. “It’s important to prioritize self-care and look after our mental well-being,” he said. “We can’t help others if we’re not taking care of ourselves first.”
In sharing his struggles with the wildfires, LeBron James is reminding us all of the importance of staying informed, taking action, and looking after our mental health in the face of crisis. Let’s all follow his lead and do our part to protect our planet and support those in need during these challenging times.
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