In his 21st NBA season, LeBron James remains a formidable force, prompting his agent and close friend Rich Paul to suggest that the 39-year-old could continue playing for another five years.
Despite nearing his 40th birthday, LeBron James’ performance suggests he has a lot left to offer, according to his agent and close associate, Rich Paul.
Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ exit from the playoffs with a 4-1 series defeat to the Denver Nuggets, speculation about James’ retirement surged, especially after he sidestepped a post-game question about whether it could be his last appearance for the Lakers.
However, Rich Paul dispelled these doubts during his recent guest spot on the “All the Smoke” podcast, hosted by Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes. Paul confidently stated that James is physically capable of continuing in the NBA for another five years.
He did acknowledge, though, that the decision might ultimately come down to mental readiness, hinting that James might choose to retire earlier based on his state of mind. “I think mentally, it could be 2-3 [years],” he said, according to Mirror.
Paul also mentioned that James’ decision on when to retire could be influenced by his wish to devote more time to his family.
“Missing time with his family, with his wife … they’ve been an unbelievable support system. At some point, it gotta be about them, and I think from that perspective, maybe 2-3 [years],” he said.
In his 21st NBA season, James maintained a robust performance, averaging 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists across 71 games, showing no physical decline.
Nonetheless, there are those who think he should retire while still at the top of his game, rather than waiting until his performance begins to wane.
