There is no doubt that LeBron James is challenging Father Time in a manner unprecedented in the records of basketball history. Approaching the age of nearly 39, which he will reach in December, and embarking on his 21st season in the NBA, LeBron shows no signs of slowing down, unequivocally asserting his enduring prowess.
Given his remarkable ability to sustain a high level of performance with the Los Angeles Lakers at the outset of the 2023-24 season, Kevin Garnett posited that The King could continue playing for another four or five seasons if he so desired. On his show “KG Certified,” Garnett elaborated:
“His desire is matched with his health, and what he is invested in himself. I’m not surprised at all. When you get old you gotta work even harder, so for him to get pulled at 29 minutes and be the best player, I’m not shocked. He’s got another 4 to 5 years in him if he wants this.”
Later, Garnett added to his explanation about James and his willingness to keep playing:
“LeBron is from the old country. He’s built from the old country. He knows how to play, he knows how to score. I’m not shocked at nothing he is doing. It’s about how long does he want to do this. And Bronny is his new motivation. Stay here another two years and get Bronny in this.”
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Bronny James will eventually make his way into the league, so the most probable outcome for James is to wait for him until he gets drafted and play together at least one year.
How Many More Years LeBron James Can Play In The NBA?
While LeBron James continues to defy the constraints of time as if it were a simple task, there will eventually come a juncture where he might start to succumb to the challenges of competing at the highest level beyond the age of 40. LeBron has made it clear that he intends to play at least one season with his son, Bronny James, who is expected to be present in the 2024 or 2025 Draft, should he opt for an additional year at USC after his cardiac arrest prior to the season.
If Bronny James enters the league in 2025, coinciding with LeBron becoming a free agent and being able to decide his future to play alongside his son, perhaps that could mark the final year of his illustrious career, retiring in 2026 at the age of 42, a feat achieved by few. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played until the age of 42, akin to Udonis Haslem, albeit with minimal participation in the previous season. Vince Carter and Robert Parish played until they were 43, while Kevin Willis extended his career to 44 years before retiring in 2007.
James is currently averaging 22 points per game, 8.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists, in addition to 1.5 steals while maintaining an efficient 53% shooting from the field. Following the 29 minutes played against Denver in the Opening Night defeat, he played 35 minutes against Phoenix (scoring 21 points), 39 minutes against Sacramento (27 points), and 33 minutes last night, tallying 19 points in the victory against Orlando.
LeBron James is still one of the best players in the league, and even though his focus is to win the championship, we will probably see him take a backseat after this season, and focus more on playing with his son, Bronny James, in the future.
