LeBron James will celebrate his 41st birthday on Tuesday.
The Lakers superstar and oldest player in the NBA is coming off a 24-point performance in the team’s win over the Kings and continues to amaze as his 41st birthday approaches.
Lakers coach JJ Redick is among those in awe at James’s ability to play at a high-level at this age. Redick is also 41 years old, and retired from playing in the NBA four years ago.
“I’ve been calling him 41 since I turned 41 in June. Tomorrow’s a day, but he's 41 to me. It is remarkable. I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning and got to get an injection on my knee,” Redick told reporters on Monday. “My body is old and broken. It’s like that [maxim], If you don’t use it, you lose it. And once I stopped using it, I lost it all.”
“I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning and got to get an injection on my knee. My body is old and broken. It’s like that [maxim]: If you don’t use it, you lose it. And once I stopped using it, I lost it all” - JJ Redick, 41, on LeBron James turning 41 tomorrow pic.twitter.com/a0IiCXuolL
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 29, 2025
"It's unbelievable. Him and my dad are the same age and my dad hasn't played in like 10 years,” Lakers guard Nick Smith Jr. said. “The stuff he does is incredible. Yeah, he's not normal."
“Him and my dad are the same age, and my dad played [in college and] hasn't played in like 10 years. So the stuff he does is incredible. Yeah, he's not normal. He's not normal." - Nick Smith Jr. when asked about LeBron James turning 41 tomorrow pic.twitter.com/MMXlhN8chd
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 29, 2025
The No. 1 pick in 2003, James has already played for over two decades and holds the record for the most seasons played by an NBA player. At nearly 41, he’s averaging 20.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game while helping the Lakers start 20-10.
"When I did the father time commercial thing, I'm in a battle with him, and I would like to say that I'm kicking his a— on the back nine,” James said Sunday.
Lebron on playing his last game at 40 years old:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) December 29, 2025
"When I did the father of time commercial thing I'm in a battle with him and I would like to say that I'm kicking his ass on the back nine"
that golf reference at the end 😭 pic.twitter.com/RAAyiDHNMy
Between becoming the NBA’s all-time scoring leader and playing alongside his son Bronny, James has done a pretty good job at pushing back against father time. He and the Lakers will try to celebrate his birthday on Tuesday by earning a win over the 24-8 Pistons, the No. 1 seed in the East.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as JJ Redick Had Relatable Message the Day Before LeBron James's 41st Birthday.
