We’re just around the corner from the tip-off of a brand new NBA season.
However, LeBron James will be absent for the first few weeks due to his recovery process from sciatica. James is expected to be reevaluated by late October, with the potential to start sometime in November.
This will be James’s 23rd NBA season, and his longevity will be studied long after he has hung up his crown. He’s a player who has won countless awards, acquired numerous stats that put him in the GOAT conversation, won four NBA titles with three different teams, and even made history as the first NBA player to share the court with his son, Bronny James, last season.
In this respect, his longevity is compared to a recent NBA headline that broke on Wednesday — point guard Malcolm Brogdon announced his retirement from basketball.
Brogdon, who began his career with the Bucks (2016-2019), then went to the Indiana Pacers (2019-2022), Boston Celtics (2022-2023), Portland Trailblazers (2023-2024), and then finished his career with the Washington Wizards last season, announced he could no longer meet the physical and mental demands of the NBA.
Brogdon and James have met on the court before, but they now also cross paths in one wild stat. Brogdon was named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year back in 2017. Of course, he has now left the game behind. He retired before James, who won the 2004 Rookie of the Year award.
Professional basketball is as competitive as it gets.
One must be honest with themselves in deciding how long they can go forward in the sport. So, while som believe Brogdon called it quits too early, it seems to have been the best decision for him.
But in terms of longevity, one can’t help but be amazed at James and his two-decade-plus reign atop the NBA. Many have come and gone, and there may never be anything like him again.
James’ NBA resume includes 21 All-Star selections, 13 All-NBA first-team selections, four NBA championships, four NBA Finals MVPs, four league MVPs, three All-Star Game MVPs, five NBA All-Defensive Team selections, and one league scoring title.
He also holds NBA records for most career points (50,472), most minutes played (71,104), most field goals made (18,459), most games played (1,855), and most consecutive games with at least one point (1,855).
