LeBron James to Play 24th NBA Season After Switching Teams

LeBron James will continue his playing career for a 24th season in 2026-27 and will change teams, according to reporting published June 30. James, 41, averaged 23.2 points, 7.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game during the 2025-26 regular season and postseason while averaging 38.4 minutes. His team advanced past the first round of the playoffs.

Hours after the James report, Serena Williams played her first singles match in nearly four years at Wimbledon. The 44-year-old lost to Maya Joint, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3. Williams had announced earlier in June that she would return for singles and doubles play, seeking additional Wimbledon titles.

Several other athletes produced strong results well into their late 30s and early 40s. In the NFL, Tom Brady led the league in passing yards and touchdowns at age 44 and won four of his seven championships after turning 37. Peyton Manning threw for 17,112 yards and 140 touchdowns over his final four seasons after joining a new team at age 36.

Abdul-Jabbar averaged 23.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in his age-38 season and won three of his six titles after turning 37. Sue Bird earned All-Star selections in four of her final five WNBA seasons and averaged a career-high 7.1 assists at age 37. Diana Taurasi made All-Star teams at ages 36, 39 and 42 while averaging 14.9 points in her final season.

Bonds posted a .609 on-base percentage at age 39, drew 120 intentional walks that season, and finished sixth in OPS at age 42. Willie Stargell posted three straight seasons with an OPS above .900 after an off year at age 36.