New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown said on March 10 that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James could “play forever” because of his dedication to maintaining his body. Brown made the comments before a Sunday afternoon game, reflecting on James’s longevity and influence in the National Basketball Association.
James, now in his 23rd season, was named an All-Star despite missing the start of the 2025-26 season due to a sciatica issue. He has since returned to full speed, helping keep the Lakers’ championship hopes alive. Fellow players such as Nikola Jokic have also recognized James as a legendary figure in league history.
Brown praised James’s commitment to physical fitness and recovery. “He’s such a phenomenal athlete. I don’t know, and I don’t know everybody out there, but I don’t know anybody that takes care of their body better than he does and he just seems like he could play forever,” Brown said. He added, “Crazy part for me is when you see players that you’ve coached and then their kids are playing in the NBA that’s a little freaky for me because it tells me I’m old but then when I go to the bathroom I shave all my gray hairs off so it helps me believe I’m not that old.
But his son playing in the NBA is just mind-blowing and that impacts me more than him retiring. I think he could play forever. That’s just my personal opinion. I know he won’t, but the shape that he is in and how he takes care of his body is just amazing.” According to Brown, James sets the standard for staying in shape among professional athletes.
James has spoken about his legacy as retirement approaches, saying he wants to be remembered as someone who did not cheat the game and put in significant effort to achieve greatness.
As James continues his career into its third decade, observers are watching closely to see how one of basketball’s most storied careers will conclude.
