LeBron James, 41, said he doesn’t see why athletes should retire if they’re still performing at a high level.
In a video released Monday from a live “The Shop” podcast panel at Fanatics Fest, the NBA star spoke about what keeps him playing after 23 seasons and why he’s not ready to stop.
“One of the deciding factors, of many, is the younger generation and the kids that have been following my career,” James said.
Seeing young fans who still look to him as “their superhero,” along with inspiring his own children, are among his biggest motivations for continuing to play basketball, he added.
“And then, me just loving what I do. I love the game,” James said.
The idea that athletes should be forced to retire just because of their age “needs to stop,” he said.
“You see it with R&B artists and musicians, and things of that nature. You see it with us in sports. There are always conversations like, when is he going to retire? He needs to retire. He’s this age. He’s that age,” James said.
“But why? Why are we trying to force people that are still doing what they do at a high level?” James continued.
He pointed to Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones as examples of performers who aren’t expected to retire simply because of their age.
“The Stones, they’ve been on tour for 50, 60 years, and no one’s telling them, ‘Hey, don’t come to our city and go do a tour,'” he added.
James said the same logic should apply to athletes. Those who are still dedicated to their craft and continue contributing to the sport shouldn’t be expected to retire.
“We’re giving everything that we have to the sport, and we’re still driving revenue as well. Why not still play it if you still love it?” James said. “I’m just trying to squeeze as much of the juice out of it as possible.”
James’ comments come just weeks after he became an unrestricted free agent, ending his eight-year stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. If they’re any indication, he isn’t ready to slow down just yet, even as where he’ll play next remains up in the air.
“We’re not going to be rushed,” Rich Paul, James’ agent, said on Monday’s episode of the “Game Over” podcast, which he cohosts with Max Kellerman. “It’s his choice to make, and when he makes the choice, he’ll make it.”
James isn’t the only public figure to reject the idea that age alone should determine when someone retires.
Roger Federer has previously spoken about the retirement speculation that followed him for years.
In a press conference after the 2018 US Open, the tennis great said reporters had been asking him about retirement for “nine years,” and “almost every interview” included questions about when he would call it quits.
“Sometimes you wonder why they ask you again because do they not hear what I said yesterday? Do they not listen to what I said two months ago?” Federer said. He ultimately retired in 2022 after struggling with persistent knee injuries.
Halle Berry has also said she doesn’t understand why people think 60 is the age to stop working.
“Why should I now sit down and give that all away — and then what?” Berry said during a podcast appearance in July.
