Thanks to the holiday season known for turkeys and shopping sprees, there's less tension on the court and more family warmth in NBA players' life.

Like every one else who can't help but go for seconds at the annual feast, LeBron James indulged himself a little at his Thanksgiving family dinner. James praised his home-made food by posting an after-dinner selfie on Twitter, saying: "Asking yourself why u ate so much when u said u wouldn't stuff yourself." The satisfied and lazy "aftermath face" on the picture indicates that food is probably the least harmful way to distract the Cavaliers star from his team's struggles on the court.

James is not the only superstar who has turned to family to salve setbacks on the court. Vanessa Bryant, wife of Lakers' Kobe Bryant, ditched the dinner-table posts Instagram has been flooded with and opted for a selfie, showing she cuddling up with her husband. The public display of affection (PDA) is a testament that their 13-year marriage is solid after the 2013 divorce drama and sexual assault charges against Kobe in 2003.

James Harden apparently has a broader definition of family. The Rockets star spent his holiday dispersing free food together with his mother to nearly 100 people at a Houston community. Harden made good use of his stardom as his Rockets teammates and coaches were summoned there to give a helping hand.

For doping scandal-ridden Sun Yang, it seemed more a time to clean up his image than to give thanks. The Chinese swimming star's thanksgiving message on Sina Weibo, China's popular microblogging service, conveyed more resolution than gratitude. Besides offering thanks to parents, mentor, friends and fans, Sun also said he will soldier on because "hardships only makes a man broader-minded and stronger." The Olympic champion was reported to have failed a doping test at a national swimming event in May and suffered a three-month ban.