NFL legend Tom Brady was lavish in his praise of LeBron James’ longevity. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar is currently playing his 23rd season in the NBA and is the only player to do so after he surpassed Vince Carter’s record of 22 years in the league.
Tom Brady Believes LeBron James Could Have Played 23 Years in the NFL
Brady himself has been a classic example of playing at an elite level in a contact-heavy sport. The seven-time Super Bowl champion played 23 years in the NFL, and his latest take was a case of greatness recognizing greatness.
Speaking on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” Brady marveled at James’ longevity. “I don’t know if he would’ve lasted 23 years playing… he actually could last 23 years,” Brady told Fallon. “…He’s ridiculous. I’ve always looked up to him and how he’s handled himself on the court and off the court.”
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Considering the efforts the veteran puts into his training and recovery, it is safe to assume that James could have easily survived 23 years in the NFL. Having played football in high school, the 41-year-old would have known what it takes to survive in the league.
In his 23rd season in the league, James has proved to be a freight train. The seasoned forward has shown his explosive athleticism with a slew of dunks and jaw-dropping defensive plays throughout the season.
Brady is no stranger to taking care of himself and his body. The legendary quarterback maintained immense consistency with his nutrition and recovery, much like James, as he played at an elite level throughout his time on the gridiron.
On the season front, James has had a rather injury-riddled year this time around. He missed the start of the season with sciatica and later endured a sore elbow, a strained hip, and foot arthritis. However, he has still performed just as well as he has over the last few years.
At the time of writing, James is averaging 18.0 points, 5.0 assists, and 5.0 rebounds through 47 games. Earlier this week, NBA insider Shams Charania said he believed James was likely to return for one more season.
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“LeBron hasn’t decided on whether he’s going to continue to play. I think the feeling around LeBron James around the league is he’s going to go at least one more season,” Charania said on ESPN’s “Get Up.”
While much about his retirement is up in the air, the Lakers and James have maintained that their focus is on the present. The Lakers are one of the hottest teams in the league, winning its last six games, with the most recent one against the Houston Rockets. Only time will tell if James will play an unprecedented 24th season in the NBA. Even if he does, it shouldn’t be a surprise.
