On his 40th, LeBron James says he could play "another 5 or 7 years." He won't stay around that long EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — LeBron James celebrated his 40th birthday on Monday with gratitude for his basketball longevity and optimism about his future with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Greg Beacham, The Associated Press Dec 30, 2024 3:29 PM Dec 30, 2024 3:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James stands on the court during warm ups before an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard) EL SEGUNDO, Calif.
(AP) — LeBron James celebrated his 40th birthday on Monday with gratitude for his basketball longevity and optimism about his future with the Los Angeles Lakers. And when James was asked how he’ll know when it’s finally time to retire, the top scorer in NBA history offered a frank assessment of his still-formidable skills. “To be honest, if I really wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level for about another – weird that I might say this – but about another five or seven years, if I wanted to," James said.
"But I’m not going to do that.” James already has one of the longest careers in NBA history, but he knows it's nearing an end. He has repeatedly said he won't overstay his welcome in basketball, yet that moment clearly hasn't arrived: James is still a dominant force for the Pa.
