LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James on Friday said he is a long way from hanging up his high tops and likened himself to veteran New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who is still going strong at age 42.
Asked by reporters whether retirement had crossed his mind, the 34-year-old James shook his head.
“I’m not at the end of my story,” James said prior to a game between his first place Lakers and the visiting Sacramento Kings at Staples Center.
“So no, not the way I feel right now.
“Me and Tom Brady are one and the same. We’re going to keep playing until we can’t walk no more,” he said with a smile.
“As long as I still feel great and as long as I can still play at a high level … I will play this game until I physically can’t or … mentally I’m a little checked out,” he said.
“Then you could start looking at that. I have no idea when that happens but I’m not there.”
Brady, whose trainer said the QB wants to play into his late 40s, responded with after seeing James’ comments.
“I’m playing until I can’t dunk anymore! @KingJames,” the six-time Super Bowl champ wrote.
After missing time with injuries in a disappointing first season with Los Angeles, it appeared the league’s grueling schedule might finally be catching up to the three-time NBA champion, who reached the finals in eight consecutive seasons.
But James has been his dominant self in the early going of this campaign, leading a retooled Lakers roster to a 9-2 record to sit atop the loaded Western Conference.