LeBron James Says He Could Keep Playing for Up to ‘7 Years’ as He Marks 40th Birthday — ‘But I Won’t’

LeBron James has a few more things to accomplish before he retires.

The basketball legend, whose birthday was on Sunday, December 30, has spent more than half his life in the NBA. He’s accomplished nearly every milestone and goal he’s set, from recently winning a gold medal with Team USA at the Paris Olympics to sharing the court with his son, Bronny. As he turned 40, James hinted that the end of his professional career could be in sight.

“It’s kind of funny, really, to know where I’m at, to see where I’m still playing the game at a high level, I’m still so young, but old in the scheme of things that I’ve gotten in this profession,” he told reporters after a Los Angeles Lakers practice on Monday, ESPN reported.

The cutest photos of LeBron James with his kids Bronny, Bryce and Zhuri

Tied with Vince Carter, James is just the second NBA player to play 22 seasons and just the 32nd to play in an NBA game in his 40s, according to ESPN. This season, he averaged 23.5 points on 49.6% shooting, and played in all but three of the Lakers’ 31 games.

In the 2022-23 season, James told ESPN that his ultimate goal — after surpassing Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s career record of 49,000 points in all NBA games — was to play with his son Bronny, which he accomplished earlier this season. .

LeBron James.

Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty

Bronny, now 20, joined his father at the Lakers’ season opener. He was selected as the 55th pick in the second round of the draft in June.

James, however, said he has a new final milestone in mind — he hopes to compete for a fifth championship, ESPN reported.

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LeBron James.

Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty

James thinks he has a few years left in him, he said in an interview after practice, but added that he has been thinking about retirement more than ever.

“To be honest, if I really wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level for probably about another — it’s weird that I can say that — but probably another five to seven years, if I wanted to,” James said. “But I won’t do that.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education