No one has played more seasons in the NBA than LeBron James has. He set that mark last year at 23. But now, the basketball icon eyes a 24th season to stretch that record even farther out of reach.
As you can imagine, the 41-year-old is already the NBA’s oldest active player. But he still doesn’t hold the all-time record there. That one belongs to Nat Hickey, a former coach who once activated himself to play back in 1948.
LeBron James Says Retirement Shouldn’t Be Forced
Is there a scenario where James pushes for that record too? Probably not, but one of his close friends did just address James’ retirement plans.
James hasn’t officially declared whether this upcoming season will be his last one. That’s been the assumption, but considering he’s coming off a record-extending 21st All-Star appearance, who’s to say James can’t keep going past the 2026-27 season?
Speaking at the Fanatics Fest, James went off on a tangent, saying sports conversations tend to push aging athletes to retire before they should.
“In sports, there’s always conversations like, when is he going to retire?” James said. “He needs to retire. He’s this age, he’s that age, but why? Why are we trying to force people still doing what they do at a high level? Why are we trying to force the narrative of it’s time to retire?”
To help strengthen his case, James made a music analogy. If the greatest musicians can perform literally as long as they want, then why can’t athletes do the same, especially when they’re special talents?
“Look at guys like Bruce Springsteen and some of the greatest musicians; they’re still on tour, or the (Rolling) Stones,” James argued. “If we’re still dedicating ourselves to the craft. If we’re not disrespecting the game, giving everything we have to the sport, and we’re still thriving as well. Why not?”
translation: LeBron is gonna play for at least 2 more seasons and he can retire having played a QUARTER CENTURY in the NBA 🐐 https://t.co/ykMun6lRe2
— 73-9 and THEY LIED (@CuffsTheLegend) July 17, 2026
Meanwhile, the account above is one of James’ good friends. Does he know something the public doesn’t?
James is the right one to state his case to play as long as he wants. After all, he’s still ranked 34th in points per game and seventh in assists last season. He may no longer be the best player in basketball, but it’s clear he can still play the game at a very high level.
Thus, if James is able to maintain his stellar play for two more years and reach that “quarter century” mark his friend alluded to? As one of the greatest athletes of all-time, I surely wouldn’t count James out.
