At 40 years old, LeBron James seems to be out here making history like he just doesn’t age. Most guys his age have retired, but LeBron? He’s not just playing—he’s dominating. Yet he is piling up insane numbers, producing game-changing performances, and keeping the Lakers in playoff contention. The question is not if he can do it anymore; it’s just how much he wants to keep going.

Lakers owner Jeanie Buss recently chipped in with an answer to that very question, giving some unimaginable insight as she’s known to do. She spoke about LeBron’s longevity, leadership, and the dynamic between the two. But for all the rumors of backstage drama, Buss broadcast this for all to hear: There’s no drama in Lakerland.

If someone wrote LeBron’s career as a movie script, nobody would buy it—at least, that’s how Jeanie Buss sees it. Talking about his longevity, she kept it real: “If you know there was a script writer writing a script, you probably wouldn’t have him playing this well at this age—he’s unbelievable.“

And she’s not wrong. Just a few weeks ago, LeBron torched the Warriors with a ridiculous 42-point, 17-rebound performance. That made him only the second player over 40 to drop 40+ points in a game—the only other guy to do it? Michael Jordan. And this wasn’t just stat-padding—LeBron straight-up took over when it mattered most, proving he can still carry a team whenever he wants.

Buss, who’s seen some of the greatest players in Lakers history, isn’t taking LeBron’s greatness for granted. She doubled down on how much he still matters to the game: “He showed us in the Olympics he’s the best player in the world… He can play however long he wants to play. He has to decide.“

That last part? That’s huge. The Lakers aren’t nudging him toward retirement. It’s entirely up to LeBron when he calls it quits.

LeBron and Buss: No rift, just mutual respect

You know the way of the NBA: whispers become rumors, rumors become narratives. But after the Luka Doncic trade, there was all the online chatter that LeBron and the Lakers’ front office were at odds with one another. Many believed he wasn’t part of the loop. Some speculated that Buss and GM Rob Pelinka were already thinking about life after LeBron.

But when Buss was asked about her relationship with him, she shut all that down. “I try not to bother him. He’s got a lot going on—he’s a multimedia star. But he knows I have an open-door policy. Anytime he wants to see me, he can.“

That doesn’t sound like tension. If anything, it’s a healthy relationship. She’s not micromanaging him, but she’s not shutting him out either. She trusts him, respects him, and gives him space. Or at least try to.

And LeBron James? He’s not out here acting like a guy who’s upset with the front office. When he was asked about the Doncic trade, he shot down any idea that he had a problem with it. “What’s wrong with that? If I had any concerns, I would have waived my no-trade clause and got up out of here.“

That’s about as straightforward as it gets. If LeBron had an issue, you’d know. The way he’s playing right now, retirement doesn’t even seem like a thought in his mind. He’s still out here stacking triple-doubles, throwing laser passes, and running the game at his own pace—just like he did in a recent win over the Celtics, where he completely took over in crunch time and led the Lakers to a statement victory.

And with Buss making it clear that the Lakers aren’t in any rush to move on, the real question is: How much longer does LeBron want to do this? Right now, the answer feels pretty simple—as long as he’s still dominating, he’s not going anywhere.