NBA champ demands apology over poorly aged LeBron James vs Michael Jordan take

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is defying the common notion surrounding 40-year-old basketball players.

NBA champ demands apology over poorly aged LeBron James vs Michael Jordan take

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, Colin Cowherd and Nick Young

It has been twenty-two seasons since LeBron James first set foot in the NBA. Only one other basketball player has matched his longevity, but not with statistics that are even close to the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.

His conditioning is exceptional, and James was expected to play at least until the end of next season. The All-Star game in Los Angeles was going to be the best situation for him to sign off from the game. That would mean, he would have played until the age of 42 in season 24.

YouTube video

Now at age 40, he is playing at an elite level and has easily surpassed any other player who was still in the NBA at that age. For instance, in his final season in the NBA, Michael Jordan had turned 40 while with the Washington Wizards.

At that age, he amassed a stat line of 20 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists. LeBron James on the other hand is averaging 24.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game. With such statistics on record, former NBA champion Nick Young wants someone to apologize.

Can he get a apology.

Nick Young wrote

He wrote this in reply to a resurfaced video of veteran analyst Colin Cowherd. The video dates back to March 2019 when Cowherd claimed that LeBron James would never be as good as Michael Jordan was at the age of 40. Now that that claim has hit a brick wall, Young tagged Cowherd asking to apologize for his past take.

LeBron James could play longer than initially expected

LeBron James did confirm that the end to his career is close. He also mentioned that he will walk away when he knows his body cannot take it anymore. He would not want to disrespect the game by showing up physically incapable.

As much as the Akron native conditions his body, there is a limit to how much a human body can take. However, he is a rare physical specimen who has defied the odds all this while. After his talk about potentially retiring in the future, some threw the idea that he might walk away after the 2025-26 season.

Their logic was based on the fact that the 2026 All-Star game will take place in Los Angeles. What better way to end his career than on that platform. However, the recent arrival of Luka Doncic might have changed his plans. Now rumors are floating that the 40-year-old could extend his stay.

For starters, he is not expending as much energy as he used to when he was tasked to be the primary playmaker. Now as a second or even the third option, he gets a lot of on-court rest. That helps him to utilize his energy on defense and when attacking the basket. He is not as fatigued as he used to be.

With this newfound energy, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar could look to continue playing for another 3-4 seasons. If that helps him to win another championship or two, he might be motivated to take the chance. After all, five or six titles will greatly enhance his position in the GOAT debate.

Lakers superstar could continue racking up statistics

LeBron James has surpassed a combined 50,000 points in his NBA career. Now with his Los Angeles Lakers in third spot in the West, they are poised to enter the playoffs with home court advantage. This means he will be the first 40-year-old to play both in the regular season as well as the playoffs.

He already has racked up more than 900 points since turning 40. If he plays next season, he could easily surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s record of 1941 points. James already leads in most games with 40+ points for a player above 40 years of age. He also has recorded more triple doubles than any other 40-year-old in history.

With time on hand and a less fatigued body, the four-time league MVP could go on to shatter other records as well. Some say the league has become softer compared to the 80s and 90s. But even then, his statistics prove that LeBron James is a touch above everyone else.