New England Patriots and NFL legend Tom Brady recently appeared at this year’s Fanatics Fest in New York City, where he praised Los Angeles Lakers legend LeBron James, who appears to be nearing the tail end of his career.
At 40 years old, James holds multiple all-time NBA records, including career scoring and minutes played. He is tied for the most seasons played (22) with his 23rd season approaching if he chooses to continue playing in 2026.
LeBron James Appears on Stage With Tom Brady at New York Fanatics Fest
Brady, widely considered the greatest of all time in football, called James the “greatest ever.”
“You’re witnessing the greatest ever and I hope you all appreciate that.” — Tom Brady on LeBron James 👑🐐 pic.twitter.com/RB5cOM8kk7
— Anthony Rivardo (@Anthony_Rivardo) June 21, 2025
“You’re witnessing the greatest ever, and I hope you guys all appreciate that,” Brady said.
James surpassed 50,000 points this season during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. He leads the NBA in career points by a wide margin, with the closest runner-up, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, at 44,149 points.
As James enters the final guaranteed season of his contract, speculation about his potential retirement has become a major topic entering the offseason. James himself offered an update.
LeBron James says he won’t play “that much further” and jokes that Wemby might push him into retirement pic.twitter.com/IVWBMZn6PI
— Ryan Garcia (@RyanGarciaESM) June 21, 2025
“I don’t know.. I can’t play that much further. The more and more time I play, as long as he (Victor Wembanyama) keeps smacking my shots into the stands, it’s going to make me retire,” James joked during the event.
Brady retired at 45 years old in 2023, and his longevity in the NFL is eerily similar to James’s career. The Hall of Fame quarterback became the oldest MVP winner at 43 and the oldest Pro Bowler at 44 before retiring a year later at the top of his game.
James has said in the past that he wants to go out on top, claiming, “As long as my mind stays in it… I can play at this level for a minute.” He also said, “Playing basketball just for the sake of playing is not in my DNA anymore.”
After averaging 24.4 points and 8.2 assists last season, the NBA’s “greatest of all time,” as Brady dubbed him, is aiming to finish strong, potentially chasing one last title with the Lakers alongside his latest co-star, Luka Doncic, which would bring him to five championships.
