LOS ANGELES – Nearly four days after saying "I ain't playing" in any NBA games behind closed doors, LeBron James changed his stance.

The league's biggest star said he became more mindful about the fluid nature surrounding the coronavirus, and how it has prompted the NBA and other professional sports leagues to consider either hosting games without fans or postponing them.

“It’s funny because when I was asked the question would you play without no fans, I had no idea it was actually a conversation going behind closed doors about the particular virus,” James said Tuesday following the Los Angeles Lakers' shootaround. “Obviously, I would be very disappointed with not having the fans. That’s who I play for.

"I play for my family and I play for my fans. No one could actually come to the game if it actually got to that point. I would be disappointed in that. But at the same time, you got to listen to the people that are keeping track of what is going on. If they feel like it is best for the safety of the players, safety of the franchise and the safety of the league to mandate that, then we all listen to that.”

The Lakers (49-13) will play the Brooklyn Nets (29-34) on Tuesday night at Staples Center. Though the Lakers listed James as questionable because of recurring soreness in his left groin, James said “it’s the plan” to suit up. Beyond that, though? It remains anyone’s guess.

The NBA plans to have a conference call with team owners Wednesday to talk in detail about possibly playing games behind closed doors. The Ivy League canceled its conference tournament Tuesday among several developments across the nation regarding sports. Various professional sports leagues in Italy, Japan and Switzerland canceled their respective games last week.

“It would be very unfortunate for our game,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “Just make the most of a difficult situation and do the right thing. If that's the right thing to do because there's a need for containment, then we understand. We get it and we'll make the best of it.”

The NBA sent memos to all 30 teams last weekend about the need to prepare for contingency planning in case the league cancels games or hosts them behind closed doors.

On Monday, the NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS announced in a joint statement the leagues would restrict pre-game and post-game access for media. NBA teams will hold post-game interviews in designated press conference rooms instead of locker rooms. Locker rooms will also be closed during the league’s pre-game availability 90 minutes before tip-off.

At the Lakers’ shootaround, the team’s public relations staff had camera operators set up six to eight feet from the lectern while roping off the sides. Normally, reporters and camera operators are in closer proximity to coaches and players.

That new setup amused James, who dismissed whether this actually addresses the problem.

“So much safer. You guys are such a threat,” James joked. “I had no idea what happened. I miss you guys being right here in my bubble. It’s very challenging to do interviews like this.”

In the past week, NBA teams have installed more sanitizing stations around their arenas, have urged sick fans to stay home and have advised attending fans to wash their hands thoroughly.

All NBA teams have advised players, coaches and team officials to avoid handshakes when greeting people. Teams are also evaluating to what extent they will limit who will travel on team planes as well as if they reduce scouting trips for opponents or NCAA men's basketball games.

The Lakers coaches, players and front office members met with a team doctor Saturday, and the rest of the organization attended a town-hall meeting Monday.

The Golden State Warriors restricted team access to fans during a season-ticket holder event Sunday that featured a Q&A with owner Joe Lacob and president of basketball operations Bob Myers as well as coaches and players hosting informal shooting contests. The Warriors avoided autograph sessions with fans and handshakes.

“People are making the adjustment,” Vogel said. “I know our guys still do their signature handshakes and whatnot, but it's really more of an elbow bump now when you greet people. I just think that's a smart thing to do.”

James also believes it is smart to find a balance between taking the coronavirus developments seriously without panicking.

“We’ll keep the main thing the main thing. Obviously, we’re going to listen to whatever protocol is going on with this issue. Obviously, we got great people upstairs that will do what is best for the franchise,” James said.

“When we have the games, we maintain our focus. We’ve had a lot of things that have been good and bad with our season. It put us in position where we had to think about the game and do other things as well. With this particular issue, I think we will handle it. Our franchise will handle it and will make sure we continue to do what we’ve been doing and just move on.”

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