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As much as we'd love to see our favorite NBA stars on the big screens forever, there comes a time when they cannot continue to put their bodies through such ordeals. The great Vince Carter retired at the ripe age of 43, after a successful 22-year career, but not many will play for that long.
Several factors cause an NBA player to retire. While many play to the point where they cannot compete at a high level, others are forced into retirement due to injuries.
On occasion, a player can decide to retire to operate at a managerial level even without suffering any injuries or inability to compete. A prime example is 36-year-old Jared Dudley, who joined Jason Kidd's coaching staff despite still being fit to compete.
The average retirement age for NBA players is the mid-thirties. Guards can play until their late thirties because they do not go through fervent banging in the paint on does not use up as much mileage on their bodies.
That said, let's look at five NBA players who are nearing retirement in the next 3 to 5 years.
#5 Carmelo Anthony
Although Carmelo Anthony is 37, he still looks fit to carry on for at least another three years. He signed a one-year deal with the LA Lakers that will see him play with his longtime friend (LeBron James) for the first time in the NBA.
Carmelo is still an elite scorer despite his age and plays decent defense. He holds the No. 10 spot on the NBA's all-time scorers leaderboard. In his last campaign with the Portland Trail Blazers, he averaged 13.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting 42.1% from the field.
#4 Chris Paul
Chris Paul has played in the NBA for 16 seasons and is nowhere near done. He excels at bringing out the best in his teammates and upholds the traditional values of a point guard.
Paul started his NBA career in 2005 after he was selected with the 4th pick in the 2005 draft. Although he excels at leading average teams to the playoffs, he is yet to win a championship ring. He came close in the 2020-21 season after leading the Phoenix Suns to the NBA finals, but they fell to the Milwaukee Bucks.
#3 LeBron James
LeBron James takes the best care of his body among all NBA players, and it shows. The highest number of games LeBron has missed in a season is 27, which happened last season, and in the 2018-19 season.
The purple and gold star player spends millions on his food and exercise routine to make sure he is performing his best whenever he steps on the court. Although some things are unavoidable, like an awkward landing or wrongly placing your foot on another player's, he makes sure that every other "avoidable" issue is averted.
Furthermore, LeBron has expressed his desire to play with his son in the NBA. LeBron James Jr. is still in high school, with the earliest he can declare for the draft to be 2024. Although he will graduate in the spring of 2023, the NBA only allows players that are at least 19 years old or are out of high school a year to declare for the draft.
While LBJ's contract with the Lakers expires in 2023, there will be no shortage of teams waiting to sign him when the time comes.
#2 Kyle Lowry
Kyle Lowry has signed a three-year deal with the Miami Heat, one which will see him play in the NBA until he is 38. He has played for 15 years so far but is still in solid form and has shown no signs of aging.
Lowry averaged 17.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.3 assists for the Toronto Raptors last season. His efficiency is also worthy of note as he shot 43.6% from the field, the second-best average in his NBA career.
Lowry, in partnership with Kawhi Leonard, led the Raptors to an NBA title in 2019 after defeating the depleted Golden State Warriors. His stint with the Heat might help them achieve their championship dreams. Although they came close in 2020, they could not triumph against the man that last brought a championship to South beach - LeBron.
#1 Al Horford
Al Horford returned to Boston in the 2020-21 NBA offseason with a deal that would have him playing for the next two years. The 5-time All-Star might still have some years in him, but is the likeliest to retire the earliest among all the players on this list.
Horford's 2020-21 NBA season was not pretty, as the big man played in 28 games before he was sidelined because he was not a good fit. The 34-year-old center has managed to stay healthy so far, even as the position he plays demands a lot from his body. Regardless, he is guaranteed to play two more seasons with the Celtics before perhaps plying his trade somewhere else.
Guess the Lakers players!
