LeBron James starts for the Lakers after missing two games for personal reasons.

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Los Angeles Lakers started LeBron James in Sunday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies after the star forward took a two-game layoff for personal reasons.

James didn’t play against Portland last Sunday or at Minnesota on Friday. The Lakers announced about 45 minutes before the game against Memphis that James’ status had been upgraded from questionable to available.

The Lakers described James’ absence as an excused absence, while also noting that he was also dealing with soreness in his left foot. Lakers coach JJ Redick announced before the game against Memphis that he and the four-time NBA MVP met the day of the Portland game to discuss his plan for a break.

“When I spoke to him earlier this week, I think I said something along those lines, just hoping he gets mentally and physically fit,” Redick said in his availability statement before Sunday’s game. “He said he felt like it was him.”

James is the oldest player in the NBA, turning 40 on December 30th. Including the playoffs, no player in league history has appeared in more games or played more minutes than James – who is in his 22nd season, tying Vince Carter for the NBA record.

Redick indicated that he would appreciate it if James felt the need to have a few days off.

“I played for 15 (years) and was emotionally, mentally, physically drained and drained,” Redick said. “I put everything I had into this game. I had nothing left. For people like him and (Chris Paul), the Tom Bradys of the world, the Roger Federers of the world, it’s hard to imagine sustained excellence for so long because of the toll it takes on all of you, just your body. “

James entered Sunday averaging 23 points, 9.1 assists and eight rebounds per game this season. He also has seven triple-doubles, second most in the NBA behind Denver’s Nikola Jokic.