LeBron James became the oldest NBA player to post three consecutive triple-doubles as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 128-123 on Wednesday. His recent achievements show how resilient and adaptable he is in the league.
After the game, James offered his retirement date, saying he doesn’t intend to play “much longer.” Although he stated that he might retire “one year or two years” from now, he made it plain that he would not continue playing the game in order to prolong his career. “I’m not going to be the guy who is disrespecting the game,” he said, expressing his desire to exit the league with honor.
Even at his age of forty, James continues to perform at a very high level. In addition to his triple-double effort against the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors, he finished Wednesday with 12 rebounds, 14 assists, and 35 points. With this achievement, he broke his own record of being the oldest player to record back-to-back triple-doubles, which he had previously set in 2019 aged 36.
As the first father-son team to play together in an NBA game, the NBA’s all-time top scorer recently shared the court with his oldest son, Bronny. Should he make it to the NBA, he has also stated that he want to play with his younger son, Bryce, for as long as possible. However, he has stated that this objective is contingent upon his physical and mental health.
Continuing his career will rely on both his emotional and physical well-being, James stated in a 2022 interview with Sports Illustrated. His drive may be a key factor in how long his career lasts, as he said, “If my mind can stay sharp and fresh and motivated, then the sky’s not even a limit.”
He was questioned once more about maybe prolonging his career to play with Bryce earlier this season, prior to a game on October 30 against his old team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although he was unsure, he stated that it would ultimately depend on how his body and mind felt over the coming years. He claimed it would be “pretty cool.”
James is averaging 24.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 9.4 assists over 11 games, which is outstanding even if he is one of the league’s oldest players still playing. With a 7-4 record thus far this season, the Lakers are off to a good start.
When the Lakers play Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Friday to begin their Emirates NBA Cup schedule, James hopes to post his fourth consecutive triple-double, which would add even more excitement to his already incredible season.
