LeBron James credits love of basketball for his longevity

On November 3, LeBron James and Steve Nash discussed what has helped James remain effective deep into his NBA career during an episode of their Mind the Game podcast. James, who turns 42 next month, said his affection for basketball and the work around it keeps him committed to preparation and contributing to teammates. Nash also pointed to love of the game as a factor in the longevity of veteran stars such as Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and James.

James said he now chooses his moments rather than trying to carry as much of the action as he did earlier in his career. With players such as Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey on his team, he described his role as more focused on setting the table and connecting teammates. He said he also considers the team’s overall health when deciding how much risk to take.

James used an October 28 play involving Pacers rookie Jalen Slawson as an example. After stealing the ball, James anticipated a chase-down attempt but decided against trying to dunk, weighing the chance of a collision and injury against the potential reward. He said he might have taken the risk several years earlier.

Asked by former Sixers player P.J. Tucker how the NBA has changed, James recalled a slower, more physical game with defined positions when he entered the league in 2003. He said the game on November 3, 2026, moves faster, relies more on three-point shooting and is less tied to traditional positions. Nash described the modern approach as pace-and-space basketball, while James said its apparent disorder is guided by shared concepts.