It’s now been 21 years since LeBron James graced the NBA world. Only six NBA greats could play for that long a time. However, none of them were equal to James in one respect – staying at the peak. The sensation from Akron is still effective in uncountable ways. He has taken the onus of pushing the Los Angeles Lakers into championship territory once again. Each season we wonder, when will James show any decline? Now it’s time to ask, will the 38-year-old ever be satisfied?

This is the first ballet Hall of Famer who has won it all. In terms of proving something, James’s plate is empty. Yet he is back and, as it looks, for another season that will baffle the ones that came before him. His decision to return didn’t come naturally. After battling a playoff loss, the Lakers forward pondered over retiring. When presented with the Record-Breaking Performance at the ESPYs, he finally spoke in front of thousands.

“The real question for me is, can I play without cheating this game?”. Hearts stopped in that moment, nervousness began mounting for all the LeBron fans. Then with his family right by his side, he said, “That day is not today,”. That brings us here wondering, when will the day come? The only comparable athlete to the NBA’s all-time scoring leader is NFL legend Tom Brady. He went on till 45. Can LeBron James do the same?

Football never stopped loving Tom Brady

In his final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady looked old. The wrinkles on his face were a testament to his football wisdom. He wasn’t as elusive as before, nor did he have his vintage rocket arm. It was pure passion that allowed him to continue into his 40s. He has won six Super Bowls before turning to Tampa Bay. The three-time NFL MVP just never saw himself sitting in the stands. Brady was addicted to being on the field.

Despite being slower and bearing physical pain in every game, Brady delivered his best season at 43. He passes for 5316 yards, his most successful season. Armed with an elite offensive line, Brady cruised Tampa into the Super Bowl, colliding with Patrick Mahomes, his perceived successor.

The Master Chief had every advantage in the book. Physically superior, a better arm and legs to scramble. Even Brady took the Chiefs to football school, defeating Mahomes 31-9. He was named the Super Bowl MVP in his seventh win, the fifth time it happened. After another 4000+ yards season, Brady briefly retired but returned for a final season at 45.

His last year was ugly. Even his former peers could see Brady was in no condition to play the sport. We saw the last of Tom Brady in the Bucs’ playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He lost to America’s Team for the first time in his entire career. That was enough to convince Brady to retire “for good”. His feat remains unrivaled to this day, the only challenger is LeBron James.

LeBron James looks like he can go for another decade

There has never been a physical specimen quite like LeBron James. And that’s the case in any sport on the planet. At 38, most athletes are retired, sipping their favorite beverage in their cozy homes. If they are still playing, they are not even in the shadows of their prime. Then there is the unprecedented longevity of James. Last season, he averaged 28.9 points in the regular season and steered a Western Conference Finals run for the Lakers. He did all this while having a hurt ankle.

This year, the ankle has healed, and the four-time MVP is looking better than ever. Averaging almost 25 points per game, James has changed his approach to be more strategic. It might not look like it, but he can’t relentlessly play as he did when he was 21. So the Lakers are using his carefully, each minute micro-managed to prevent any additional workload. In his 33.9 minutes every game, his most prominent occurrence comes in the fourth quarter.

He leads the NBA in most field goals made in that time. We saw him do it two nights ago against the Phoenix Suns. James scored 15 of his 31 in the fourth in the Lakers’ nail-biting win against the Suns.

Rob Pelinka deserves major credit for making such a scenario possible. He added players who can take the responsibility of playmaking allowing James to move freely off the ball and decimate defenses from afar. The newly adapted playstyle has shown us a new side of LeBron James. He simply looks like a man embracing his love for basketball. Through this love, we see him directly oppose science.

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It doesn’t look like his body is even close to saying ‘It’s time’. Rather each time he is out there, his body somehow shows improved conditioning. But will that last till he is 45?

How long can the King continue to play?

There are many theories as to what inspired James to still go on. One angle is his wanting to play with both his sons. Another is James wanting to surpass Michael Jordan’s tally of six NBA titles to finally be the undisputed GOAT. The truth, however, is even LeBron James doesn’t know what his end goal is. “I don’t know what the end is going to look like. I have no idea,” he said according to AP News.

All that is known is what keeps him going, and that is his family. In the offseason, when he coached his younger son Bryce’s AAU team, it rekindled the love he had for basketball. It made him realize that he could still give basketball his all. Nothing can beat that. As long as this freight train is consumed by the game, his body will maneuver itself.

John Salley recently claimed James can easily play till 45 because his body is built that way. In some manner, it does seem like an engineer pieced everything needed for James to always play basketball. However, the man himself said it best. Till he loves the game, he will keep going. I don’t doubt LeBron James can play for another 4, maybe 5 years. His dedication and discipline to maintain game shape is unmatched.

But no one can control motivation. During the media availability, King James said lifting the Larry O’Brien is what keeps him going. He also dedicated this season to Bronny, who suffered a frightening cardiac arrest earlier in the year. Today, he has these reasons to continue working meticulously and defy common laws.

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But fast forward a few years. If Bronny and Bryce are both in the NBA. As a father, maybe that’s the journey he wants to relish. LeBron James has given his all and more to the game of basketball. Currently, competing is a priority. At 45, I find it tough to say for sure that it will be the case.