Dressed in a black suit with a thin black tie against a white shirt, Larry Sanders quietly addressed the media for the first time since Dec. 23, his last game action with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 26-year-old center spoke for about two minutes following the Bucks' 102-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns Tuesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

When asked directly about a tweet on Monday from Racine Journal Times reporter Gery Woelfel about his desire to play basketball, Sanders acknowledged he did not see the tweet, or the series of tweets surrounding that one, but was informed of them.

"You know, I figured with me … my absence, something was going to come out sooner or later," he said. "You know, that’s not true.

"But what is true, I will say, I’m in the process of working things out now internally to do what’s best for my psyche and my physical health going forward. So there’s a lot of evaluating going on, there’s a lot of inside talk just to put myself in the best place for my health right now."

Sanders would not disclose exactly he is working through, telling OnMilwaukee.com it remains a private issue, but allowed that he is making progress toward a return to the court. But, he said there remains no timetable for one.

"Without these things being corrected, I don’t think basketball will be something I can even do," he said. "I’m going to work my way back to try to be able to play."

Bucks head coach Jason Kidd said Sanders will not be traveling with the team as they head to Philadelphia for a Wednesday night game.

Sanders, who has been away from the Bucks since playing just over 27 minutes in a home loss to Charlotte on Dec. 23, sat with the team on the bench and came out to the floor prior to the game to sign autographs for fans.

"It felt great to be around the guys again," he said. "Everyone’s working really hard. It’s good to see everyone’s face."

Head coach Jason Kidd said prior to the game that the organization is helping Sanders work through his personal issue and that his absence has not been a distraction.

"It hasn’t affected us and we just want Larry to get back as soon as possible," Kidd said. "He makes us a better team."

On the court, the Suns took advantage of some late 3-pointers to pull away from the Bucks with a 31-point fourth quarter.

The loss dropped the Bucks back to .500 at 18-18, and it was the team’s fourth straight loss at home.

"That’s definitely something we need to adjust and figure out," guard Kendall Marshall said. "It should be easier to win at home and then steal some on the road. It seems to be the opposite way for us. Maybe we play with a certain chip on our shoulder on the road. I really couldn’t tell you. I think if we knew the answer we’d fix it. Hopefully we’ll figure it out in the next game or two."