Brady talks friendship with LeBron: 'I've always admired him'

HOLLYWOOD - JULY 14: Winner for Best Breakthrough athlete, basketball player LeBron James is greeted on stage by quarterback Tom Brady at the 12th Annual ESPY Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on July 14, 2004 in Hollywood, California. This year's ESPY's will air Sunday, July 16th on ESPN beginning 9 PM EST/6 PM EST.

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As two of the best to ever play their respective sports, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James have a lot of respect for each other.

"We've been friends for a long time. Yeah, I've always admired him," Brady said about James on Friday, according to WEEI's Ryan Hannable. "He's a great athlete, player. I think he loves the sport, he loves basketball, he loves the competition. I feel the same way about football."

Brady's comments came after James called the duo "one and the same" while discussing career longevity.

LeBron says of considering retirement: "Me and Tom Brady are one and the same. We're gonna play until we can't walk no more."

He says he wants to play until he physically can't, or until he mentally is checking out. But says LeBron: "I'm not at the end of my story." pic.twitter.com/i00feTicrL
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) November 15, 2019

The 42-year-old Brady is in the midst of his 20th NFL season and, according to his personal trainer, thinks he can play until he's 46 or 47. James, 34, is currently in his 17th NBA campaign.