At 40 years old, LeBron James responds to retirement: Wembanyama's blocks force me to consider retirement; I can't play as long as Brady did.

On June 22, Beijing time, during the Fanatics Fest event held in New York City, 40-year-old Lakers superstar LeBron James appeared alongside NFL legend Tom Brady and Wembanyama, who had just returned from China. When discussing the possibility of retirement, James admitted that his days playing in the NBA are numbered.

When asked how much longer he could play in the league, James jokingly pointed at Brady and said, “He played until he was 58! But I’m not sure, man... I can’t play that long.” He then gestured towards the 2.21-meter French rookie Wembanyama, joking that this young player might “force” him into retirement. “The longer I play, the more he’ll swat my shots into the stands, which will eventually make me retire.”

Wembanyama humorously replied, “You might retire later than I do.” He then officially responded, “I guess I can play for about two more seasons.”

Brady chimed in from the side, saying, “Not just two! He needs to make those records truly unbreakable!” The former NFL player, who played until he was 45, also told James, “You’re looking great on the court!”

Since the Lakers were eliminated by the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, speculation about James's future has intensified. As a four-time NBA champion and the all-time leading scorer in the league, he will turn 41 in December and is currently playing alongside his son Bronny. James's contract with the Lakers runs through the end of the 2026 season, at which point he will become a free agent.

Earlier this week, the NBA legend hinted that he might venture into the entertainment industry after retirement. He previously hosted "Saturday Night Live" and starred in the movie "Space Jam: A New Legacy." “If the right script comes along, and I have the time... I wouldn’t mind trying to see if it works out,” he said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

He also mentioned in that interview that he now has ample time to address his injuries and knee issues, taking care of other parts of his body to ensure he is as close to 100% as possible when training camp starts in late September. While he has not determined a specific retirement timeline, he stated that it would be “incredible” if he could continue playing until 2026 when Bronny becomes eligible for the draft.

Will James achieve the dream of playing alongside his son? We will have to wait and see.