LeBron James celebrated his 40th birthday on Monday, reflecting on a storied career that has spanned 22 seasons. Speaking to reporters after Los Angeles Lakers practice, the four-time NBA champion embraced the milestone with humor and introspection.
“I’ve had a decade of my 30s, so waking up and realizing, ‘Oh shoot, I’m 40,’ is kind of laughable,” James said. “I’m still playing at a high level and feel like a young man, even though I’m old in terms of years in this profession.”
James, who became the youngest player to surpass every major scoring milestone from 1,000 to 40,000 points, is only the second player in NBA history to play 22 seasons, matching Vince Carter. On Tuesday, he will join an elite group as just the 32nd player to appear in an NBA game in his 40s when the Lakers face the Cleveland Cavaliers.
While the thought of retirement has crossed his mind, James believes he could extend his career if he wanted.
“If I really wanted to, I could play this game at a high level for another five to seven years,” James said. “But I’m not going to do that.”
His performance this season supports his confidence. James is averaging 23.5 points, 9.0 assists, and 7.9 rebounds on 49.6% shooting, appearing in 28 of the Lakers’ 31 games.
James, who achieved his dream of sharing the court with his son, Bronny, on opening night this season, said his focus is now on competing for a fifth championship. Despite the Lakers being just 1½ games out of fourth place in the Western Conference, he admitted the team still has room to grow.
“Right now, I think we’re a very good team,” James said. “But are we at a championship level? No. And that’s okay because we have room for improvement.”
James also affirmed his intention to finish his career with the Lakers.
“That’s the plan,” James said. “I came here to play the last stage of my career and finish it off here. My relationship with this organization speaks for itself, and hopefully, I don’t have to go anywhere else.”
While James may be uncertain about how long he will continue playing, one thing remains clear: he has firmly established his impact on the game and his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time.
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