Los Angeles, CA – LeBron James, now 41, said he already knows the exact moment he will decide to end his NBA career: when the daily grind stops motivating him.
In an interview with Time magazine, the Los Angeles Lakers forward explained that neither age nor statistics will dictate his retirement timeline. “It’s up to the mind,” James said. “Where the mind goes, the body will lay.”
James added that his love for meticulous preparation remains the key indicator. “When I’m not in love with getting to the arenas on game days five hours before to start my preparation, if I’m out of love with getting to practice two-and-a-half hours beforehand, then I know I’ll be done,” he said. “Because then I’m going to start cheating the game.”
The four-time NBA champion continues to rank among the league’s most productive players and maintains a central role with the Lakers. During the 2025-26 season he demonstrated he can still influence games at a high level, despite being the NBA’s oldest active player.
Questions about his future surface each offseason as his Hall of Fame résumé nears its twilight. For now, James indicated he will keep playing as long as his passion for preparation endures.
Source: Hoops Wire
