LeBron James Unsure Of Retirement Age

LeBron James is broadly viewed as the best, or second-best, player in the history of basketball, with only Michael Jordan competing for the title of GOAT – Greatest Of All-Time.

This isn’t exactly news.

Nor is it news that James, 40, is no longer a spring chicken, and he seems awfully aware of it.

“It’s popping up more and more every year,” James said on Wednesday’s ‘Pat McAfee Show’. “Obviously, I know that I’m on the other side of the hill than the other side. For me, it’s about my mind. I’m all about the process. If it gets to the point where I don’t feel like showing up to the arena five hours in advance. Or I don’t feel like training. Or I don’t feel like studying the scout sheet of guys. If it gets to that point, I’ll know, ‘You know what, Bron, that’s a wrap.’ I will be able to tell.”

James’ openness about the unknown time table of his retirement is refreshing, as he makes it apparent it’s a feeling-out process.

How long can he play for?

In terms of his play this season, which has to be one of the biggest indicators available, it’s difficult for anyone outside of James’ circle to make a genuine guess as to when his playing career is over.

Even at 40, James is almost unrealistically effective, and impactful, to the Lakers, averaging 24.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.4 assists on the season.

While he isn’t as dominant as when he was in Cleveland and Miami, there can be made no argument that his drop-off is in any way severe, or sudden. If anything, he’s become only slightly less athletic on a year-to-year basis, to the point where it’s hardly noticeable.

In fact, James has even be able to slowly transition his game into being more perimeter-based, as to offset any loss in athletic prowess, further prolonging his effectiveness.

At this stage, it seems as though the superstar is very capable of keeping that trend alive, to the point where fans and pundits can actually expect several additional years of high-impact performance, if he so chooses.

Will James play until he’s 45? Clearly, it boils down to what he feels, but on the surface, nothing strongly indicates that he won’t be able to.

The Lakers forward is known to invest heavily in his recovery process, investing millions of dollars every year into maintaining his physique, and the results have spoken for themselves, given that he’s closing in on 1,600 regular season games, and 300 playoff games.

Could James be waiting for his second son?

There’s a fan-led theory that James won’t retire until his second son, Bryce, is also in the NBA, similar to that of Bronny, who’s a Lakers rookie this year.

While there isn’t any official word on that theory, it shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand.

Bryce James turns 18 years old this calendar year, meaning he will eligible to be drafted in 2026, as players are allowed to enter their name in the same year as they turn 19.

With Bryce’s eligibility so close, it makes a lot of sense – on a human level – for James to wait it out, and perhaps force Bryce the Lakers’ way in order to share the court with both Bryce and Bronny at the same time – which any parent would likely consider one of the greatest, and most wholesome, moments in their career.

That takes us through the 2026-2027 season, should James wish to make the aforementioned theory a reality.

That’s another two NBA seasons, which feels like a fairly realistic window to expect James to maintain a similar impact as he does now, however wild that sounds.

For NBA fans around the world, surely most would have no issue with James taking on another two years. For parents around the world, most would actively root for him to do so.

Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.