LeBron James, forty-one years strong

James is 41 today. How can we vividly portray LeBron at this age?

In today’s league, 82 players weren’t born when James first played; five head coaches are younger than him, with Mazula and Will Hardy being four years younger.

Across the entire NBA history, James has competed against 35.5% of players; 12.8% of all Finals have featured James; his career playoff wins surpass those of 21 teams. In his unique 23 seasons, James is a living piece of history.

Jordan had retired three times by 41, Bird had become Coach of the Year, O’Neal had been a commentator for two years, while James celebrated his 41st birthday playing alongside young teammates.

When he unprecedentedly missed training camp, preseason, and the first fourteen regular-season games, his condition faced serious scrutiny. In one game, he barely scored 10 points and said in a post-game interview, “This is aging; you wake up and find new issues you didn’t have the night before.”

In the very next game, James scored 8 points, ending his streak at 1,297 games. Aging can happen in an instant. I once thought that moment would be when his consecutive double-digit scoring streak ended, even if he assisted a game-winner. But what did he do next?

In the following seven games, James averaged 25.6 points, 6 assists, and 5.7 rebounds, still producing All-Star and All-NBA caliber numbers. In the last game against the Kings, he shot 11 for 13, marking the most efficient game of his Lakers career, including four dunks in one match.

In Carter’s final season, every dunk was almost newsworthy. James has dunked 68 times after turning 40. Kings coach Doug Christie witnessed James’ first career dunk on the court and then, 22 years later, saw his last dunk at age 40 off the court.

Of course, no one can deny that after 40, the passage of time becomes increasingly apparent in James. Sciatic nerve pain before the season was a sign of his aging body. Reeves still tried to give James alley-oops as before, but James missed unusually.

In his 23rd season, James significantly reduced his ball-handling drives and naturally settled into a veteran role in the corner. He has long handed over the ball to Doncic and even ceded the spotlight to Reeves. He’s no longer all-powerful or dominant every night, but he plays with growing efficiency.

Between ages 20-29, James averaged 29 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists with a 57% true shooting percentage, representing his physical peak and frequent high scoring showcasing his talent; from 30-39, he averaged 25 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists with a 57% true shooting rate, marking his technical and mental prime, breaking all barriers.

After 40, James averages 24 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, with a 61% true shooting percentage. Before James, reaching 40 was seen as an honor but also an endpoint. Now, at 40, the phrase “veterans never die” feels renewed; 40 is a time to keep fighting. If he wants, 40 can be a fresh start.

He might no longer rank among the top thirty players in the league, but he remains better than most. At 41, at this age of clarity, James can let go of many things, setting aside pride and ego.

In the 2015 playoffs against the Bulls, the Cavaliers coach designed a last-second play for JR to shoot. James grabbed the clipboard, said “Absolutely not,” erased the play, drew a new one, and said, “I’ll do this: I’ll cut here, go to the corner, get the ball, and make the shot.” Then he hit the buzzer-beater over young Butler.

Now, James doesn’t snatch the clipboard from Reddick demanding the next play be his. He’ll give the final possession to Reeves, and if Reeves is double-teamed, James will handle it himself. He cares less about a single game’s result after playing over 1,570 regular-season games.

When James looks in the mirror, he knows his best physical form is behind him, but that doesn’t stop him from giving his all on the court. As long as he wears this jersey, he arrives hours early to prepare. He won’t live forever in his prime, but when the heat fades, his love for the game remains precious.

Each age has its own scenery. Crossing the threshold of 41, James moves one step closer to the journey’s end. Of course, I’ll always look forward to writing about James’ birthday night again at the end of next year.

Happy 41st birthday to James, and best wishes to everyone for a smooth year ahead. See you in 2026.