Rich Paul believes LeBron could play into his 40s

LeBron James' longtime friend and agent, Rich Paul, isn't ruling out the possibility of the Los Angeles Lakers star returning for several more seasons.

During an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio on Tuesday, Paul said he can see James playing into his mid-40s if the motivation is there.

"He's one guy that I'm not gonna say 'no' about," Paul explained. "I think it's important to understand what really motivates him. I know it, obviously, I've been around him for so long. I can tell you what his day probably looks like without even talking to him. And as long as his mind is there, as long as he's still excited about playing the game, in addition to the health, absolutely.

James left his future up in the air following the Lakers' exit from the playoffs in May, saying he wasn't sure if he'd be returning for a 21st season.

The 38-year-old has yet to announce his plans for next season, but Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka stated on a recent ESPN broadcast that James "is doing the behind-the-scenes work" to prepare for the upcoming campaign, according to Peter Dewey of Lakers Daily.

James has two years remaining on his contract, including a player option for the 2024-25 season.