LeBron James turned 40 this past season, yet still operates at an elite level night after night. As the seasons keep rolling, so does the debate: how much longer will LeBron keep playing?
That question was front and center during a special live taping of The Shop at the 2025 Fanatics Fest. On stage sat three generations of athletic greatness in LeBron James, NFL legend Tom Brady, and NBA phenom Victor Wembanyama.
What began as a celebration of excellence quickly turned into a fascinating glimpse at how the old guard views its legacy and how the next wave views the future.
When the discussion turned to LeBron‘s retirement timeline, Wembanyama had a playful prediction.
“He might even outlast me,” he joked, before settling into a more measured take. The Spurs star guessed LeBron had “two more years” left in the tank.
Brady, however, wasn’t ready to start that countdown.
“He’s gotta make those records truly unbreakable,” the seven-time Super Bowl winner said, urging LeBron to continue rewriting history.
For Brady, the goal isn’t just longevity for its own sake – it’s about making sure that LeBron‘s legacy becomes unreachable. “He’s worked so hard for so many years, and if he can push himself a little more, his records will be secured forever.”
Records, legacy, and the push for more
LeBron is already the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 42,184 regular-season points. Add in his postseason stats, and the total eclipses 50,000, a staggering number no other player has ever reached. He holds 21 All-Star appearances, multiple MVPs, and a treasure chest of playoff achievements that stretch across three decades.
Still, LeBron hasn’t shied away from hinting that the end may be closer than most want to believe. Two months ago, he stirred speculation when he said he was “closer to the finish line than people think,” a reminder that the King might soon hang up the crown.
But Brady, who famously played into his mid-40s and won a Super Bowl at 43, knows what it takes to extend a career and manage expectations. That’s why his message to LeBron hit home. If anyone knows about squeezing out every last drop of greatness, it’s Brady.
“You’re witnessing the greatest ever, and I hope you all appreciate that,” Brady said, giving LeBron what may be the ultimate GOAT endorsement from one legend to another.
Brady also made a point to highlight how LeBron has carried himself throughout his career, from team changes to Olympic dominance. “LeBron has always done things the right way,” he said. “Be it his MVP-winning stint in the Olympics in Paris or playing for different teams. That, in his opinion, sets LBJ apart.”
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