James still king of the court at 40

Superstar LeBron James celebrated his 40th birthday on Monday, the milestone carrying him to yet another first in a league in which he has starred for more than two decades — with the clock still running.

The Los Angeles Lakers great will become the first NBA player ever to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s.

A four-time champion, four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and four-time Finals MVP, James continues to excel.

In his 22nd season he's averaging 23.5 points, nine assists and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Having surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league's all-time scoring leader in February of 2023, he has taken his total to 41,131.

Still in his sights is the record for baskets made — James's 15,088 trailing Abdul-Jabbar's 15,837 — and the record for most games played.

With 1,520 he's fifth on that list topped by the 1,611 of Robert Parish.

"It's just a commitment to the craft and to the passion and love I have for the game," James said when he set the minutes-played mark on Dec 19.

"It's kind of mind-boggling just to be in this position coaching him, playing against him for 15 years, taking three years of calling his games and then he's still playing at this level," said JJ Redick, the 40-year-old who played 15 seasons in the NBA and then served as a TV commentator, before being named head coach of the Los Angeles Lakes in June.

"Feels like he's just been doing this forever, and not a small stretch in human history — but forever.

"And that just speaks to his competitive stamina and love of the game."