LeBron James, Lakers Head To 20th Christmas Game

Merlin sees LeBron James treating record breaking as routine as he slides through a historic 23rd season. Teammates joke, "Welp, it's gonna be another LeBron record tonight," even as he already became the first player to appear in 23 NBA seasons and saw a 1,297 game streak of double digit scores end on Dec 4. He is set to become the first to play in 20 Christmas Day games, though he admitted he would "rather be at home with his family." Merlin notes the levity masks a deeper balance between legacy and rest. Longevity brings milestones and new limits, and the Lakers may manage his minutes more than in past years. Family and load management look likely to influence whether LeBron chases another holiday mark or sits to stay fresh.