Over the last couple of years, there has been speculation about how much longer LeBron James will play in the NBA and specifically with the Los Angeles Lakers. That talk intensified over the last few weeks after James’ agent, Rich Paul, issued a cryptic statement following James’ decision to exercise the player option on his contract for this coming season.
It looks, in all likelihood, like James will at least start the 2025-26 season as a member of the Lakers, despite all the trade rumors surrounding him. What happens afterward is anyone’s guess, and it is certainly possible he sticks around past this season.
When the new campaign starts, James will be suiting up for his 23rd NBA season, which will be a new league record. NBA insider Marc Stein feels that the 40-year-old playing not just past this season but for two more seasons afterward is a “legit possibility” that could come to pass (h/t Lakers Daily).
“I believe that LeBron playing 25 seasons, by contrast, is a legit possibility on the board,” wrote Stein. “This is again purely a gut-feel read at the minute, but I certainly won’t be shocked if he plays two more seasons after this one. I’ve already made it clear that I think he will play at least 24. At that point why not go for a quarter-century?”
James does seem to have plenty left in the tank right now. He averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds a game while shooting 51.3% from the field and 37.6% from 3-point range this past season, and with Luka Doncic now a teammate of his, he should be able to conserve his energy more than ever.
Playing a total of 25 seasons, especially if he has three more seasons left at a high level, would greatly enhance his legacy in terms of longevity. He already has the greatest longevity of any NBA player in history, as he became the oldest player named to the All-NBA Second Team. If James keeps going while aging gracefully, he could have a shot at becoming the oldest player named to the All-Star team, a record that is currently held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was nearly 42 years of age when he established that feat.
If nothing else, it would be a little while before another NBA player reaches 25 seasons of service. If James plays that long, he will stay in the league until the age of 43.
About the Author
