Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is currently in his 17th NBA season, with the future Hall of Famer’s strong start helping to dismiss criticism that the end of his career isn’t far away.
Asked to envision how his career will come to an end, James invoked the lengthy career of another sports legend, NFL quarterback Tom Brady, as a comparison.
With Carmelo Anthony coming back to the NBA, LeBron James was asked if he's thought how the end of his career will look: "Not really. Not the way I feel right now. Me and Tom Brady are one in the same. We’re going to play until we can’t walk no more."
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 15, 2019
James entered the league in 2003 after being the top overall pick that year of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Prior to that selection, James had been the focus of intense scrutiny over the course of his high school career, achieving a level of success that would lead to him being in the conversation as the greatest basketball player ever.
Entering Friday night’s game against Sacramento, James has played in 1,209 regular season games and 239 playoff games. His commitment to the game has helped him play in the vast majority of his team’s contests over the years, with his 55 games during last year’s injury-plagued campaign the fewest of his career.
That grind hasn’t lessened the 34-year-old James’s love of basketball, just as the 42-year-old Brady’s love of football hasn’t diminished. In the latter case, Brady continues to thrive in his 20th NFL season with the New England Patriots, with both James and Brady winning multiple league MVP awards over the years.
The two athletes also share a legacy of success with their teams. Brady has led the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles and has taken them to three other Super Bowls. Meanwhile, James has led two different NBA teams to a total of three league titles, while competing nine different times in the NBA Finals. The latter amount included eight straight trips from 2011 to 2018.
James is currently focused on helping the Lakers get back to their former status as an elite team, with their 9-2 start offering plenty of promise for the year ahead. His averages per game for this season include 23.9 points, a league-leading 11.1 assists, 8.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
