LeBron James and family forced to evacuate Los Angeles-area home amid raging wildfires

Wildfires that continue to wreak havoc on the Los Angeles area have forced LeBron James and his family to leave their home.

The four-time NBA champion confirmed to reporters that he had been temporarily staying in a hotel, which made him feel “uncomfortable.” James also opened up about his emotional state when he learned that some of his friends had lost their homes.

“There’s a lot of emotion,” James said at a news conference. “I have several dear friends who have lost their homes in the Palisade. Obviously, my heart goes out to not only all the families in (Pacific) Palisade, but all the families in Los Angeles County and all surrounding areas , because fires and things like that cause a lot of emotions.

“Personally, I’ve moved on,” he added. “Personally, my family has been evacuated since Thursday night. So, I’ve been living in a hotel since I got back from Dallas. So, just figuring it out. But staying strong with each other. Obviously, that’s the most important thing Strong and important.

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James spoke after the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 117-108 on Wednesday. The 40-year-old James scored 22 points and 9 assists.

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This isn’t the first time the James family has been evacuated due to a fire. A family leaves their home after a brush fire near the Getty Center in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood in 2019. James lives in Brentwood.

James updated the information on his social media at the time. He talked about some of the differences between what his family went through more than five years ago and what they are facing now.

Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (6) poses with his family after the game (LR) Bronny James, Bryce James, Juri James, Savannah James and Gloria James at Crypto.com Arena, February 7, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Harry Howe/Getty Images)

“We’ve had this experience and can lean on it a little bit,” James said. “The difference between ’19 and today is, ’19 was in the middle of the night, so we had to go right away. We had more time before we had to evacuate, so we were able to get something, get some items or whatever the case was, Get something that means a lot to us.

“But our home has been absolutely untouched from the moment we left and yet it is still standing and we are grateful for that. Hopefully it will continue to stand. Just be patient and wait for when we are allowed to return to it time to become a member of our family.

James said it’s his responsibility as a professional athlete to provide fans and the community with at least a brief break from the hardships faced by people in the area.

Residents try to escape a house fire on January 8, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, California. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu, Getty Images)

“It’s definitely our job to know that we still have work to do,” James said. “We have to stay focused on our jobs but still be human and understand what real life is all about. I wish we could be out there and play the way we did tonight and not play like we did against the San Antonio Spurs — but The way we played tonight, hopefully over the next few months, or whether it’s years, until this city recovers, it gives us a sense of hope, pride as a Lakers franchise and as players who play for the Lakers. , excitement and stuff like that.

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“Sports always give people a chance to temporarily forget about everything they may have been through. We, like many other sports teams, are an important part of the Los Angeles community, but we know how important sports are. The Lakers are here for the community — and hopefully we Able to provide this service to many families.

Due to wildfires, the NBA postponed the Lakers’ home games on January 9 and January 11. The Lakers were inactive Thursday but resume play Friday when they host the Brooklyn Nets.

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