Skip to content
Sixers

Four more years? Agent Rich Paul thinks Sixers will 'energize' LeBron and could extend his career

LeBron already ranks among the NBA’s oldest players ever. Here’s how high he could climb if his career lasts another four seasons.

Bronny James, left, of the Lakers is guarded by his father LeBron James during warm-ups before their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 28, 2025.
Bronny James, left, of the Lakers is guarded by his father LeBron James during warm-ups before their game at the Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 28, 2025.Read moreCharles Fox / Staff Photographer

LeBron James signed a two-year contract to end his career with the Sixers, but his agent and longtime friend, Rich Paul, recently suggested that it’s possible James plays for even longer.

“I think Philadelphia’s going to energize him,” Paul told ESPN. “Maybe we get two [seasons]. Maybe we get four.”

James, who is entering his 24th NBA season, is currently 41, and will turn 42 on Dec. 30. He will be the oldest active player in the NBA next season, but he’s far from the oldest ever.

» READ MORE: Rich Paul explains the Tyrese Maxey asterisk and how the Sixers learned LeBron James’ decision

Where does LeBron rank among oldest all-time NBA players?

James will begin the season as the ninth-oldest player in NBA history. If he completes his two season contract with the Sixers, he would retire as the fourth-oldest player in NBA history.

The oldest player to ever play an NBA game was Nat Hickey, who played his final game on Jan. 28, 1948 at 45 years, 363 days old.

Even if James were to play four more seasons — and retire after the 2029-30 season — he still would not claim the top spot, because of his late December birthday. But he could finish second, and would be the oldest of any modern-era NBA player.

Name
Nat Hickey
Age at final game
45 years, 363 days
Date of final game
January 28, 1948
Name
Kevin Willis
Age at final game
44 years, 224 days
Date of final game
April 18, 2007
Name
Robert Parish
Age at final game
43 years, 254 days
Date of final game
May 11, 1997
Name
Vince Carter
Age at final game
43 years, 45 days
Date of final game
March 11, 2020
Name
Udonis Haslem
Age at final game
42 years, 363 days
Date of final game
June 7, 2023
Name
Dikembe Mutombo
Age at final game
42 years, 300 days
Date of final game
April 21, 2009
Name
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Age at final game
42 years, 58 days
Date of final game
June 13, 1989
Name
Bob Cousy
Age at final game
41 years, 150 days
Date of final game
January 6, 1970
Name
LeBron James
Age at final game
Active
Date of final game
Active

» READ MORE: Draymond Green is right about VJ Edgecombe. But he couldn’t be more wrong about LeBron James. | David Murphy

Have any grandfathers played in the NBA before?

OK, as far as we know, Bronny James does not have a child, nor is he close to having one any time soon. But, he is 21, so it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility that, if James were to play as many as four more NBA seasons, he could become a father at some point during that span — and make LeBron a grandfather.

So for the purposes of speculation, there has only been one previous player to play in an NBA game while also having a grandchild: Robert Parish, who became a grandfather at age 42 and went on to play another NBA season.

The Inquirer logo
The King Picks Philly

Purchase a front page reprint of The Philadelphia Inquirer from Saturday, July 25, 2026, featuring LeBron James following the news that he was joining the 76ers. Buy it here.

Join The Conversation
Community Guidelines