Novak Djokovic, the tennis superstar who recently secured his record 24th Grand Slam tournament victory at the US Open Final, took a moment to express his admiration for the remarkable career longevity of Los Angeles Lakers’ basketball icon, LeBron James.

When LeBron James first entered the NBA, he brought with him an unprecedented level of media attention and scrutiny. Regarded by many as one of the most talented prospects in the history of the NBA, it’s safe to say that few anticipated he would still be performing at such an elite level after 20 seasons in the league.

The sheer number of regular season, postseason, and Finals games that LeBron has played throughout his illustrious career would typically take a significant toll on most NBA players. However, this Ohio native has defied expectations through his incredible commitment to maintaining his physical condition year after year.

Despite his incredible career, which includes four NBA championships, LeBron James briefly contemplated retirement during the last postseason. After his team was swept in the Western Conference Finals by the eventual champions, the Denver Nuggets, the possibility of LeBron’s retirement began to loom on the horizon, suggesting that he may be approaching the twilight of his career.

Novak Djokovic, himself a dominant force in tennis, applauded LeBron James for his career longevity and his ability to sustain a high level of performance even as he enters his 21st season in the NBA.

Djokovic remarked, “I mean, I know I’m not the only one. I know there are a lot of great champions in different sports that thrive on this kind of approach to perfect themselves, their approach, their game, their performance, their recovery, every single day. On and on. That’s why LeBron James still keeps going at his age, or Tom Brady, you know, greats like that, that are inspiring.”

This mutual respect between athletes transcends their respective sports, and Djokovic also paid tribute to the late Kobe Bryant after securing his 24th Grand Slam victory.

Both Djokovic and James have enjoyed immense success in their respective fields, and their longevity is something to be admired and cherished. It’s remarkable to witness Djokovic drawing inspiration from James and other greats like Tom Brady, who have set the standard for maintaining excellence in their sports despite the challenges of aging.

With Djokovic adding yet another tournament victory to his impressive resume, NBA fans eagerly await the upcoming season, hopeful that LeBron James, despite being 38 years old, can lead the Lakers to another championship.