A day after conflicting reports emerged about his ongoing absence, Larry Sanders returned to the Milwaukee Bucks' bench on Tuesday night shortly before his team's 102-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns. Sanders did not play in the game and will not travel with the team to Philadelphia for the Bucks matchup with the Sixers on Wednesday, but he was on the bench with teammates and signed autographs before the game.
Afterwards he spoke with the media for the first time since December 23, appearing somewhat exhausted in a brief locker room Q&A session. Some highlights:
"I'm in the process of working things out now. Trying to do what's best for my psyche and my physical health going forward. So there's a lot of evaluating going on, a lot of inside talk to put myself in the best place for my health."
On whether he was making progress:
"Definitely making progress. Getting to the root of a lot of issues, getting them corrected going forward."
On whether basketball was helping him move forward:
"Without these things being corrected I don't think basketball would be something I could even do."