Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has made comparisons between Lakers star LeBron James and NFL champion Tom Brady, claiming four-time NBA champion LeBron could play for another 13 years.
“It’s crazy,” Spoelstra said of James. “He’s redefining what’s possible with human performance. The way he looks, it looks like he’s the Tom Brady of the NBA, that he could just keep on going. His athleticism is still there. But if he ever only had to rely on his brain, he could play until he’s 50 and still be effective and move the needle.”
Spoelstra is very familiar with what James can do since he coached him at the Heat for four seasons. It brought much success to Miami as LeBron played alongside Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade and made four straight Finals berths and won two championships in 2012 and 2013.
LeBron still has another eight years before he is doing what 45-year-old Brady does (in terms of age).
Since coming out of his extremely short-lived retirement, Brady’s numbers are slightly down from last season but his leadership and knowledge is second to none and he has helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to first place in the South heading into Week 17 of the NFL season.
In contrast, LeBron is putting up some impressive numbers and has averaged 34.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, eight assists and is shooting 58 percent from the field in his last three games but despite all his hard work, the Lakers lost all of them.
This season overall, James has averaged 27.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists, while shooting 49.6 percent from the field but LA are only 13-20 this season, which puts them at 13th seed in the West.
Three months ago, James agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension until the 2024-25 season, which would keep the second-leading scorer in NBA history in Purple and Gold past his 40th birthday.