LeBron James will turn 40 in December.
LeBron’s Impressive Stats:
Despite his age, LeBron remains one of the top players globally. Last season, he averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game while shooting an impressive 54% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc for the Lakers. It’s incredible how he keeps improving even after playing nearly 1,500 regular-season NBA games.
Lakers’ Faith in LeBron:
The Lakers clearly believe in him too. They signed him to a two-year, $101M contract extension this summer. If he opts into the player option on that deal, he’ll be 41 when it ends. The wild part? He might still be a top-10 or top-15 player then.
Shane Battier’s Praise:
In a recent chat with Sirius XM NBA Radio, Shane Battier praised LeBron’s longevity and dedication to his body. Battier witnessed this firsthand during their time together on the Miami Heat.
"He’s unbelievable," Battier said. "I saw the dedication to his body firsthand… His commitment to being at peak physical condition is what separates him from everybody else."
“That’s what separates him from everybody else.”@ShaneBattier tells @TheFrankIsola and @Scalabrine that his former teammate, LeBron James, is still going strong#HeatCulture
โ SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA)
The Cost of Greatness:
Back in 2016, Bill Simmons reported that LeBron spends about $1.5 million each year on keeping his body in peak shape.
"People donโt realize how hard he works on his body… Heโs got chefs… masseuses… everything he does is constructed to have him play basketball and stay healthy," Simmons shared.
Fans truly admire such dedication!
A Legacy Cemented:
All this effort has paid off big time for LeBron. Even now, he’s a contender for championships and potential trade talks with teams like the Warriors seeking another title before Steph Curry retires (source). Plus, he’s added another Olympic gold medal to his collection.
Regardless of whether he wins another championship or not, LeBron’s place as one of basketball’s all-time greats is secure. His career will be talked about for decades due to his longevity and impact on the game.
Battier was right: it’s amazing that LeBron is still performing at such a high level after so many years in the league! The real question now is how much longer he’ll playโand if it’ll be with the Lakers.
