LeBron James has spent two decades owning the biggest stages the NBA has to offer, but on Christmas Day, the King is keeping it real.

The Los Angeles Lakers star is set to face the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day (Dec. 25), marking roughly his 20th time playing on the holiday. 

It’s a resume line only a handful of players can touch, yet the milestone doesn’t automatically make it his favorite tradition. 

Speaking with reporters after the Lakers’ recent win over the Clippers, the four-time NBA champion was candid about where he’d actually prefer to be.

“I’d much rather be at home with my family,” the veteran said plainly.

The honesty landed immediately, but it wasn’t dismissive. 

For the Akron native, Christmas Day games are deeply tied to how he first fell in love with basketball. 

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Long before he became the league’s most recognizable figure, he was a kid watching the greats go head-to-head while the rest of the country unwrapped gifts.

“It’s the game I love. It’s a game I watched when I was a kid on Christmas Day,” he shared, reflecting on those early memories. 

Seeing legends take the floor during the holidays helped turn Christmas games into something sacred and eventually turned him into a fixture of them.

Now, as a future Hall of Famer still expected to deliver on the NBA’s biggest days, responsibility outweighs preference. 

As tempting as a quiet day on the couch sounds, the call still matters.

“My number is called, our number is called, so we have to go out and perform,” he said.

Even if the King would rather be home for the holidays, when Christmas arrives, the league still looks to him to set the tone, and history says he rarely disappoints.

Watch the clip below.