LeBron James celebrated his 40th birthday on Monday by reflecting on his unique position in the NBA, where he stands as the oldest player on a roster this season while still delivering impressive performances on the court. Recently, he addressed questions from the media following the Los Angeles Lakers’ trade involving players De’Angelo Russell and Maxwell Christie, which brought Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the team.
In an insightful moment, when discussing retirement, James compared his situation to NFL legend Tom Brady, stating that he wouldn’t retire due to a decline in performance: “It won’t be because I can’t play this game at a high level. To be honest, if I really wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level for about another – it’s weird I might say this – but I’ve got another five to seven years if I wanted to.” However, he hinted that he would not pursue such longevity in his career.
Currently, LeBron is averaging 23.5 points, nine assists, and 7.9 rebounds per game in what is his 22nd NBA season. Under his leadership, the Lakers are positioned fifth in the Western Conference. This season also marked the historic achievement of him playing alongside his son, Bronny James, making them the first father-son duo in the NBA.
While James was somewhat reserved about his retirement plans, he expressed a strong desire to conclude his career with the Lakers, saying, “I would love for it to end here… My relationship with this organization speaks for itself and hopefully I don’t have to go nowhere before my career is over.”
James’s aspirations reflect not only his commitment to the Lakers but also highlight a positive outlook on aging in professional sports. His ability to maintain high performance levels serves as an inspiration to younger players and fans alike.
As the basketball community celebrates LeBron’s legendary career, there remains hope that he can complete it with the franchise that has become synonymous with his identity in the sport.