He’s showing few signs of slowing down in year 20.
38-year-old Los Angeles Lakers All-Star power forward LeBron James has enjoyed stunning longevity throughout his 20-year NBA career. Rarely hurt before joining the Lakers in the summer of 2018, James has missed an average of 21 games with LA, but when he has played, he has been almost at the level of his peak athletic self.
So how long will he keep this up?
Speaking to reporters after yesterday’s 129-121 overtime LA defeat of the New York Knights, James was asked about potentially (but really, you know, definitely) surpassing ex-Laker Kareem-Abdul Jabbar’s current regular season scoring record of 38,387 points. It was in his response that James also covertly offered an insight into his intended timeline for remaining in the league.
“I’m going to do it,” James said. “It’s just a matter of time when I’m going to do it. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be in this league for at least a few more years.”
James has long indicated he wanted to remain active in the league at least until eldest son LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., now a senior at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, would be able to play alongside him.
Under terms of the current CBA, Bronny James could play, at the earliest, in the 2024-25 season, when LeBron James will turn 40. He is presently inked to a new extension that gives him a player option for that season.
This year with LA, James is averaging 30.2 points on .505/.310/.765 shooting splits, 8.5 rebounds, 7.1 assists and one steal per night, across 41 games.
