NBA, Basketball Herren, USA Playoffs - Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 4 Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James looks at the bench during the first half of the NBA Playoffs western conference semifinals game four between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA, 11 May 2026. LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES PUBLICATIONxINxGERxAUTxINDxONLY Copyright: xCHRISxTORRESx
NBA, Basketball Herren, USA Playoffs - Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Game 4 Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James looks at the bench during the first half of the NBA Playoffs western conference semifinals game four between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA, 11 May 2026. LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES PUBLICATIONxINxGERxAUTxINDxONLY Copyright: xCHRISxTORRESx
NBA legend LeBron James admitted he questions why he still trains with the tenacity of a youngster trying to prove himself, despite being 41 and having achieved everything in the NBA.
The four-time NBA champion was a guest on The Shop podcast show at the Fanatics Fest when he was asked if he still trains and goes to the arena five hours before the game starts.
"You get a little older, and you play four or five nights in four different cities," James said. "Or you play a back-to-back in two cities that are four or five-hour flights away. The next night, you sit there in the arena, and I get there, like you said, four or five hours before the game. Sometimes I’ll be like, ‘The hell am I doing here?"
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 31: Los Angeles Lakers Forward LeBron James (23) looks on during a NBA Basketball Herren USA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 31, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire) NBA: JAN 31 Lakers at Clippers PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon190131042
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 31: Los Angeles Lakers Forward LeBron James (23) looks on during a NBA Basketball Herren USA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 31, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire) NBA: JAN 31 Lakers at Clippers PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon190131042
James said his achievements haven't stopped him from working hard. The 22-time All-Star is also a four-time Finals MVP and four-time MVP. Not only that, but he also featured in the All-NBA Team a total of 21 times in his career up to now.
"It does get to you sometimes. You're flying to Milwaukee one night, and then it's a back-to-back in Chicago...it's like four different cities, four different hotels," James explained on the Shop podcast. "You definitely lose track of what hotel room your a** is in."
Earlier, NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins stated that James could play in the league until age 45, praising his longevity. However, while James lamented the grueling travel that takes a toll on his body, the league itinerary for the upcoming season has not yet been finalized.
NBA commissioner and LeBron James seem to have a little feud stirring up
While James has stated how difficult it is to deal with the schedule, at times needing to fly to four cities and stay at four hotels, commissioner Adam Silver has been worried about completing that very same tiresome schedule. Still, he knows how James' decision of choosing his next team will affect it.
Earlier on July 16, Silver appeared for an interview with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin at the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit in New York, voicing his concerns.
"The way I think about it is, we have to finish up the schedule," Silver said. "Where LeBron plays will affect the schedule. So I would like him to make his announcement already, so we can finish the schedule, because, as you might imagine, the teams are calling us, the networks are calling us, and everybody wants to lock in the schedule."
James, on the other hand, was seemingly 'irritated' by Silver's public push for an early decision, and delayed his announcement despite being ready to make it.
Do you think LeBron can really play until he’s 45? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
Read more at the Air Jordan Chronicles!
Written by
Dhruv Singh
Edited by
Shubhi Rathore