LeBron James and his family forced to evacuate their Los Angeles area home due to raging wildfires

Wildfires that continue to wreak havoc in 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 taken up temporary residence in a hotel, which left him feeling “unwell.” James also spoke about his emotional state when he learned that some of his friends had lost their homes.

“There were a lot of emotions,” James said at a news conference. “I have a few dear friends who lost their homes in Palisades. Obviously my heart goes out to all the families, not only across the (Pacific) Palisades, but throughout Los Angeles County and all surrounding areas because of the fire and things of that nature. It's been a lot of emotions.

“Personally, I left,” he added. “Personally, my family, we've been evacuated since Thursday night. So, I've been in a hotel since we got back from Dallas. So, I'm just figuring it out. But staying strong for each other. Obviously, that's the more important.”

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LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game against the San Antonio Spurs on January 13, 2025, at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

James spoke after the Lakers' 117-108 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday. James, 40, finished the game with 22 points and nine assists.

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This is not the first time the James family has been evacuated due to fires. In 2019, the family left their home after brush fires broke out near the Getty Center in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. James lives in Brentwood.

James then provided updates on his social media feed. He talked about some of the differences between what his family experienced more than five years ago and what they face today.

LeBron James (6) of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a photo with his family at the end of a game, (LR) Bronny James, Bryce James, Zhuri James Savannah James and Gloria James at Crypto.com Arena on February 7 2023. , in Los Angeles. (Harry Comment/Getty Images)

“We had that experience and were able to build on that a little bit,” James said. “The difference between 1919 and today, '19, it was the middle of the night so we had to go straight away. We had a little more time before we had to evacuate, so we were able to salvage some . things, get stuff back, or whatever it is, get things that matter to us.

“But our house definitely hasn't been touched since the time we left, but it's still standing and we're grateful for that. Hopefully it continues to stand. I'm just waiting patiently for when we get a chance to 'go back and be as one under our house.

James said his position as a professional athlete comes with the responsibility to offer fans and the community at least a brief break from the situation people in the area are facing.

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

“It’s definitely our job to know that we still have work to do,” James said. “We have to focus on our job, but also remain human beings and understand what real life is. I hope that by going out on the field and playing like we played tonight – not like we played against San Antonio – but the way we played tonight and hopefully the next few months or whatever, the years, until the city is back, that we as a Lakers franchise and the players who play for the Lakers, let's give an impression of hope, pride, enthusiasm and things of that nature.

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“Sports has always given people an opportunity to temporarily forget whatever they may have been through. And we are such an important part of the Los Angeles community – along with many other sports teams, but we know how to how important sports are to the community – I hope we can offer that to a lot of families.”

The NBA postponed Lakers home games on January 9 and 11 due to the wildfires. The Lakers were inactive on Thursday but return to action on Friday when they host the Brooklyn Nets.

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