On Christmas Day, after another epic game against his rival Stephen Curry, a crowd of reporters surrounded James. He was tired but happy. When asked about the exciting parts of the NBA these days, James grinned and simply said, "LeBron and Steph." He's right, but with his 40th birthday just days away, everyone's thinking about how much longer he'll keep playing. No one knows for sure, not even James himself.
A few weeks ago, James took a mysterious break from the Lakers for nine days. Since coming back, he's been playing at his usual high level again. Before his break, he seemed to be slowing down, even shooting the ball worse than he did as a rookie 20 years ago. Maybe it was just fatigue from the Olympics last summer, where he won his third gold medal. Whatever the reason, it made people wonder if this was the beginning of the end of his amazing career. James has hinted that he might retire soon, and when he does, the NBA will lose a true superstar.
Even Curry, who's 36, has been thinking about retirement lately. He recently told ESPN that he's thinking about it "more than I probably have before." Curry believes that accepting that his career is almost over helps him appreciate every moment he has left on the court.
Both Curry and James are still top players in the NBA, but time is running out. If James plays another season, many believe it will be his last. That would be his 23rd season, breaking Vince Carter's record for the most seasons played. Fans are grateful to still see their heroes play, but they also dread the day they'll have to say goodbye. For the players, it's even harder. Knowing when to stop is a difficult choice.
JJ Redick, a former NBA player and current coach, knows how hard it is to retire. He remembers a moment on New Year's Eve during his last season when he was playing in Dallas, feeling lonely and missing his family. He called his parents, wanting to quit and drive back to New York. But he couldn't bring himself to leave the game.
Redick also remembers the phone call that finally made him decide to retire. He was in Dallas again, and his family was visiting. His coach, Rick Carlisle, told him to skip the game and spend time with his family. Redick started crying and realized he was done.
LeBron James doesn't want to end his career like that. He's said many times that he doesn't want to play past his prime. He doesn't want to stay too long and "cheat the game." But it's a tricky situation. He's still one of the best, but he knows his time is almost up. For someone who's dedicated his whole life to basketball, deciding when to walk away is incredibly tough.
