Kevin Durant Showers LeBron James With Praise: ‘That Longevity Has To Mean Something, That Has To Be A Standard’

Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant showered Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James with high praise during The Boardroom NBA Cover Story. 

Durant said LeBron’s longevity “has to mean something.”

KD says LeBron’s longevity is the standard when it comes to greatness. Full Boardroom Cover Story convo drops Tuesday on the B/R app and @boardroom platforms pic.twitter.com/zoyEHn9UoF

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 18, 2024

LeBron has been in the NBA since 2003. He’s made 20 All-Star teams (the most in NBA history) and is showing no signs of slowing down despite being 39 years old. 

For the Lakers this season, LeBron is averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.6 blocks. He’s the oldest player in the NBA and is still an elite offensive force. 

“The league’s given me so much,” LeBron told Michael Lee of The Washington Post. “I just try to set an example for the next generation. I never got into, like, ‘Oh, I’m the face of the NBA.’ I never, ever even said that. I’ve always just understood it as a responsibility with being a professional. And I’ve always wanted to be that and always have done that.”

LeBron has career averages of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers. He’s a four-time regular-season MVP, four-time champion and four-time Finals MVP. 

LeBron is the only player in NBA history to rank top five all-time in both points and assists. He’s also the only player to have at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 career assists. 

LeBron is first in NBA history in points, second in field goals, fourth in assists, ninth in steals, fifth in triple-doubles, seventh in points per game, third in player efficiency rating and eighth in 3-point field goals. 

The first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, LeBron is 132 points away from becoming the first player ever to score 40,000 career points. 

A future Hall of Famer, LeBron has won one championship with the Cavaliers, two with the Heat and one with the Lakers. He’s the only player in NBA history to win three Finals MVPs with three different franchises.