Evolving sports science and recovery technologies have allowed athletes to perform at a high level into their late 30s and some cases — see Tom Brady and Jaromir Jagr — mid-40s.
Three of the NBA’s most celebrated stars, LeBron James, 39, Kevin Durant, 35, and Stephen Curry, 35, are all getting up in age, but there are no discernible signs of any of them slowing down anytime soon.
Durant — who entered the league in 2007 — suffered an Achilles injury in 2019 that many felt could have prematurely ended his career or stripped him of his otherworldly skills.
However, Durant didn’t miss a beat, and amazingly began shooting the ball at a higher clip after his devastating injury.
In a recent interview with Michael Lee of The Washington Post, Durant reflected on how his goals in the league have shifted periodically and why he expects them to change again at some point.
“I was just trying to get to 10 years in the league, and that was my goal,” Durant said. “But then once you get to nine, eight, you’re like: ‘I feel great right now. I can keep going.'”
Durant believes himself, James and Curry could play into their 40s, crediting their work ethic and love for the game as the secret to their longevity.
Durant expects the trio to work even harder to remain relevant in a league being taken over by younger superstars.
“I’m not going out there and relying on my name and what I’ve done in the past to get that respect,” Durant admitted. “I respect that about the young players. They don’t give a s— about what you did in the past. It’s about today. So that keeps me on point.”
Could James, Durant and Curry play into their 40s? At this point, there’s no reason to bet against them.
