{"id":32134,"date":"2020-07-17T09:00:03","date_gmt":"2020-07-17T13:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/?p=32134"},"modified":"2020-07-16T23:15:23","modified_gmt":"2020-07-17T03:15:23","slug":"lebron-james-isnt-slowing-down-anytime-soon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2020\/07\/17\/lebron-james-isnt-slowing-down-anytime-soon\/","title":{"rendered":"LeBron James Isn’t Slowing Down Anytime Soon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> forward LeBron James<\/a><\/strong> has been one of the best players in the NBA from the moment he stepped on to the court as a 19-year-old. Now in his 17th season, \u201cKing James\u201d is still producing at an MVP level. With many of his fellow 2003 draftees now retired, James\u2019 longevity is one to behold. However, Father Time eventually catches up to everyone, so how much longer can he sustain his elite level of play?<\/span><\/p>\n

LeBron James Won’t be Slowing Down Soon<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Age and Past Comparables<\/strong><\/h3>\n

To answer that question, we should take a look at past players who are known for their longevity. The two most obvious examples are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar<\/a><\/strong> and Karl Malone<\/a><\/strong>. They both played until the age of 40 and were still All-Stars during their last few seasons. Moreover, Abdul-Jabbar and Malone rank first and second all-time in minutes played when combining both regular season<\/a> and playoff<\/a> games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Like James, Malone played at an MVP level at age 35 and won the award for the second and final time in his career. In fact, he\u2019s the oldest MVP winner<\/a> in NBA history. Malone would go on to enjoy three more All-Star seasons before eventually retiring with the Lakers in 2004. Remarkably, the power forward didn\u2019t experience a considerable drop-off in play until he turned 40 and still averaged over 20 points per game at 39.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Similar to Malone, Abdul-Jabbar played at a high level into his late 30s as well. He is the oldest (age 38) and second-oldest (age 36) player ever to make the All-NBA first team<\/a>. He was also voted as an All-Star during his final season and retired at the age of 41. However, that might have been a ceremonious pick rather than one that was truly deserved. Abdul-Jabbar didn\u2019t decline noticeably until he was 39, yet he still averaged over 17 points per game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Minutes Played is a Factor as Well<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Outside of age, minutes played is another stat that needs to be examined when discussing longevity. James is already 3rd all-time in minutes played (regular season and playoffs) because he entered the league as a teenager. Meanwhile, Abdul-Jabbar and Malone were both 22 when they first stepped on to an NBA court; this means that they had experienced less mileage at 35 than James has. This could be detrimental to the latter\u2019s longevity, but we also need to consider the difference in eras.<\/span><\/p>\n

Science and medicine have advanced exponentially in the decades since Abdul-Jabbar and Malone played, which could help prolong James’ career. \u201cThe King\u201d is also one of the most well-conditioned athletes of his generation; he allegedly spends $1.5 million annually<\/a> to keep himself in peak shape. Furthermore, James is now spending more time on the perimeter as a playmaker rather than banging in the post. This means that his body won\u2019t be as worn down physically as before.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Considering these factors, James could probably produce at an elite level into his late 30s. He’s still arguably the best player in the world, and I expect him to continue to be in that conversation. Similar to Abdul-Jabbar and Malone, James could be a bonafide top 10 player until the age of 38. He might decline afterward, but I believe that his playmaking abilities could make him an All-Star until he\u2019s 40.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, LeBron James still has at least three more seasons of elite play left in him. He\u2019s currently on track to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in all-time minutes. James might also be an All-Star at 40, which is something only a few players have done in history. There\u2019s no doubt that \u201cKing James\u201d will go down as one of the greatest athletes to ever play in the NBA.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>