James: I worked hard while keeping my faith during my absence. It’s great to be able to play alongside my teammates.

Today, the Lakers defeated the Jazz at home 140-125, ushering in their third consecutive victory. After the game, Lakers forward James was interviewed.

Talking about his feelings about returning after missing the first 14 games of the season, James said: "It feels fun to be able to go on the court and play alongside my teammates. The past period has been very difficult for me mentally. This is the first time I have missed the start of a season since I started playing basketball at the age of 9. I have never missed the start of a basketball season before. So, going through that tested me physically and mentally. I Just practice hard, keep your head high, and keep your faith. This got me to the point where I can play today. It feels great to be able to enjoy the full fun of playing. You may have seen me joking on the court today. It is so fun to play with these guys."

In this game, James made 4 of 7 shots, 2 of 3 three-pointers, and scored 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 12 assists.