It wasn’t long ago that we saw athletes decline and fade away from the spotlight in their mid-30s, but quite a few are now pushing the envelope. LeBron James is perhaps the greatest example, and Shannon Sharpe asked UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, who retired at 41, why athletes nowadays like him are continuing to dominate when they’re older on Club Shay Shay.
“Because of the access to recovery,” Cormier said. “I think athletes are smarter today. Those guys are very young. So when we’re younger, like you’re in your 20s, you’re in your 30s, you’re Superman. You go to sleep, you jump out of bed, you go to train. Every day. But then, as you start to get older, the body starts to ache a little more.
“But those guys in their 20s and 30s, they’re not rejecting the body anymore,” Cormier continued. “They’re saying at 25, while I may feel great, I know there are problems underlying for me that I need to address. Make sure that I’m straight. And I think that’s why they’re playing so long, but they’re playing at an elite level.”
With all the advancements in science and other aspects involving the human body, players have more information on what it will take to extend their careers. The ones who have paid heed are able to hold off Father Time for a bit longer, and James is a great example.
James just averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024-25, his 22nd season in the NBA. The 40-year-old looks fully capable of carrying on for a couple more years, too.
There was a rumor floating around for quite some time that James spends $1 million a year on his body, but he made it clear that wasn’t true. The 21-time All-Star does invest, as he uses a wide range of recovery methods, such as hyperbaric chambers.
James also shared another reason behind his longevity that had more to do with his mind than his body. While the Lakers superstar is indeed one-of-one, he isn’t the only player shining at an advanced age in the NBA.
Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, who are 37 and 36, respectively, still dominate on the court. As long as neither suffers a serious injury, they should be able to perform at a high level for a few more seasons as well.
Daniel Cormier Sees Bronny James Playing In The NBA For A Decade
James, Curry, and Durant are approaching the end of their professional careers, while Bronny James has just started his. Bronny will be entering his second season in the NBA in 2025-26, and Cormier thinks he’ll be playing for 10 years.
“For LeBron James Jr. to be in the NBA, it’s nuts,” Cormier stated. “And then to have another one [Bryce] that’s supposed to be even better than the other one… LeBron James Jr., if he can stay in the league for 10 years, that to me would be astounding … and he will.”
Bronny averaged 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game in 2024-25 after the Lakers selected him with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The 20-year-old wasn’t ready to play a significant role in the NBA, but did have some success in the G League.
Bronny also recently showed that he could potentially be a solid two-way player in the NBA someday in the Summer League. If he does develop into one, he could well stick around for a decade.
