LeBron James celebrated his 40th birthday on Monday and expressed his belief that he could continue playing in the NBA for several more years, even though he currently has no plans to do so.
“To be honest, if I really wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level for about another 5-7 years, if I wanted to,” James shared. “But I’m not going to do that.”
James seems content with the idea of retiring in the near future and has every intention of finishing his career with the Lakers.
“That would be the plan,” he affirmed regarding staying with the Lakers. “I came here to play the final stage of my career and to end it here. However, I am also aware of the business side of the game and basketball. But I believe my relationship with this organization speaks for itself. Hopefully, I won’t have to leave before my career is over.”
Although James has been trying to avoid reflecting too deeply on his career, reaching this milestone of turning 40 has made it challenging to ignore.
“I mean, I had a decade of the 30s, so waking up and realizing that I’m now 40 is quite amusing. It’s interesting to see where I am still playing the game at a high level,” he reflected. “I still feel like a young man, but in the grand scheme of how many years I’ve been in this profession, I’m considered old. It’s cool to think back to when I entered the league as an 18-year-old kid and now I’m here at 40, a 22-year veteran with 20-year-olds in the NBA as well. It’s pretty amazing.”
