The once infamous tweet has only gotten worse and more hilarious as time has continued to pass. But at 41 years old, it’s safe to say that there is virtually no expiration date on LeBron James being a legitimate superstar at all points in time.
This deep into his career, he’s still breaking new records, as the Houston Rockets found out firsthand. As a result, one of his primary rivals throughout his career, Kevin Durant, had to tip his cap to the sustained excellence from a once-in-a-lifetime athlete.
Kevin Durant Believes LeBron James Could Play Until He’s 45
When Vince Carter barely grazed the rim on a dunk in a basketball game as a 40-year-old in his 22nd season, it was seen as a momentous occasion. James just had multiple rim-shattering dunks in his latest outing against Houston, including a dunk of the year contender with a one-handed alley-oop.
Simply put, his level of success is unparalleled, particularly this deep into his career. Currently, he’s averaging 21.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.8 assists on 51.4% shooting from the field for a Los Angeles Lakers team where he often plays alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
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Durant, who came into the league nearly half a decade after James, had some hefty praise for his rival. “I think he could play until he’s 45 years old. I don’t know if he want to be around for that long, but I think he could play another 4-5 years, to be honest.”
From a pure production and versatility standpoint, it is hard to argue with Durant’s assertion. A ball-dominant offensive engine for the entirety of his career, James has adjusted his role effectively in recent seasons.
No longer handling the offense by himself, he has been able to expend his energy in other areas, helping the defense as well as the overall cohesion of the team. That has directly translated to the team’s success, as they’ve won 7 in a row.
“I think he could play for another 4-5 years, to be honest.”
KD giving LeBron his flowers 💐 pic.twitter.com/TYZh6oJYUF
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 19, 2026
Now firmly in the driver’s seat for the 3-seed in a vaunted Western Conference, LA is starting to look like a legitimate contender. But, on the occasional night, James can turn back the clock and tap into the talent that made him the all-time leading scorer in NBA history.
He knocked down 13 of 14 shots en route to a 92.9% shooting night, tying the highest field goal percentage of his career in a game where he tallied at least 30 points.
“It’s not a surprise anymore. His age, yeah, he’s 41, but he looks great out there. When you love the game as much as he does, you’ll do anything to stay locked in and stay at the top of your game.”
Right now, there is no clear indication of what the future holds for James. A lot of people wondered if this could be his final season in the NBA. But with the way that he’s playing, he could stick around for longer, and next season could be on the cards.
“He’s very inspiring as a human being.”
