New Delhi, Dec 31 (NationPress) LeBron James, a player who has excelled in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for two decades, celebrated his 40th birthday on Monday. While still being recognized as a top-ten player in the league, he took a moment to reflect on his extraordinary career and stated that he believes he could maintain a high level of performance for another five to seven years.
"To wake up and think, ‘Oh wow, I’m 40?’ It’s somewhat amusing, honestly, to realize where I am and that I’m still competing at a high level, feeling youthful despite the number of years I’ve dedicated to this profession," James remarked during a Lakers practice, as reported by The Athletic.
“If I truly wanted to, I could potentially play this game at a high level for about another - it sounds strange to say - but likely another five to seven years. However, I have no intention of doing that. I would definitely miss basketball a lot, but I won’t retire only to return later,” James expressed.
LeBron made his league debut as an 18-year-old in 2002, coming straight from high school to join his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since his entry as one of the most anticipated rookie talents in league history, he has dominated the game for 22 years, an achievement unparalleled in any sport.
Now at 40, he has claimed four NBA championships and has played for three teams throughout his career - the Cavs, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers - and he is determined not to expand that count, as he intends to conclude his career as a Laker.
"That’s the plan. I would love to finish my career here. I came here to play the final chapter of my career and to wrap it up here. However, I’m also not naive or overly jaded to ignore the business side of the game, as I understand the business of basketball. Yet, I believe my bond with this organization is well established. Hopefully, I won’t have to go anywhere else before my time in the league is over," he added.
The Los Angeles Lakers have recently acquired forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets. In exchange, the Lakers sent guard D'Angelo Russell, forward Maxwell Lewis, and three future second-round draft picks to the Nets. While LeBron candidly addressed his team’s status as championship contenders, he believes this recent trade will enhance the team’s prospects.
"At present, I consider us a very good team. I believe we can compete with anyone in the league. Are we at championship quality? Can we win a championship right now? No, I don’t think so. But that’s positive because we have ample room for growth, and we’ve just integrated two new players as well in DoeDoe (Dorian Finney-Smith) and Shake (Milton). So, we’ll see how we can incorporate them. That should be exciting too. I’m thrilled to have them here," he concluded.
