The gray in LeBron James’ beard was unmistakable as he addressed reporters on his 40th birthday Monday after the Los Angeles Lakers practice.
“I had a mid-30s, so to wake up and say, ‘Oh, fuck, damn, you’re 40?'” said James, back with the team after missing Saturday’s game against the Sacramento Kings while recovering. . of a disease. “It’s a little ridiculous, really, knowing where I am, seeing where I’m still playing at a high level, being still such a young man but old in the scheme of how many years I’ve been in this profession.”
James, who was the youngest player in league history to reach career scoring milestones of 1,000 to 40,000 points, is now just the second to play 22 seasons, tying him with Hall of Famer Vince Carter.
And when he faces his former team in the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, he will become the 32nd player to appear in an NBA game at age 40, according to ESPN Research.
Although James admitted that he has “of course” considered retirement more than ever, the four-time champion (fresh off a gold medal run with Team USA at the Paris Olympics and winning MVP of the tournament) said he could play much longer. if you decide so.
“To be honest, if I really wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level, probably for another while (it’s strange that I can say this), but probably another five or seven years, if I wanted to.” ” James said. “But I’m not going to do that.”
James’ production this season would back up that claim. He is averaging 23.5 points on 49.6% shooting, 9.0 assists and 7.9 rebounds while appearing in 28 of the Lakers’ 31 games.
As he approached Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record during the 2022-23 campaign, James told ESPN that the last goal he hoped to achieve after the scoring feat would be sharing the court with his son, Bronny James.
He accomplished that goal on opening night of this season, closing out the second quarter of Los Angeles’ win over the Minnesota Timberwolves with Bronny, whom the Lakers selected with the 55th pick in the second round of June’s draft.
“You came in as an 18-year-old and now you’re sitting here as a 40-year-old veteran and a 22-year-old with a 20-year-old in the NBA as well,” James said Monday. “So, it’s great.”
James has since told ESPN that his last remaining motivation is the opportunity to compete for a fifth championship.
James was asked if the Lakers, who are currently just a game and a half out of the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, won the title, would it prompt him to continue playing with the opportunity to compete for another one or leave him free to walk? far at the top?
“If you ask that question, the first person I thought of was Jason Kelce,” James said, referring to the former Philadelphia Eagles center who now works as an NFL analyst for ESPN. “Earlier this year, he had a meeting [interview] with [Eagles quarterback] Jalen Hurts talking about that same factor, the fact that [the Eagles are] extremely good this year and have you thought about coming back and maybe not retiring? Of course [he has]. But he is very happy with the decision he has made.”
As for the Lakers?
“Right now, I think we’re a very good team,” James said. “I think we have a chance to compete with anyone in the league. Are we at a championship level? Can we win a championship right now? No, I don’t think so. But that’s good because we have a lot of room for improvement.” .
“I don’t know if that will determine whether I stay longer because it doesn’t change my career in any way, shape or form.”
Although James was unsure of the Lakers’ championship chances, he was more firm in his belief that he will not play for another franchise.
“That’s the plan,” James said. “I would love for it to end here. That would be the plan. I came here to play the last stage of my career and finish it here. But I’m not stupid either… [not] know the basketball business. But I think my relationship with this organization speaks for itself. And I hope I don’t have to go anywhere before my career is over.”
