LeBron James still has a chance to leapfrog Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player to ever live.
As of now, LeBron sits behind Jordan as the second-best player of all time.
Lately, it's been assumed that since Bron is past his prime, his status at No. 2 behind the Chicago Bulls' mythical legend MJ is cemented.
Two recent developments could change that, however.
The first has to do with James' enduring athleticism at age 40. No, LeBron is no longer the athlete he once was, but he's still very athletic and durable, even by NBA standards, and it's starting to look like he could play into his mid-40s if he wants to.
Could LeBron become the Tom Brady of the NBA in terms of longevity, remaining a serious threat to contend at 45 years old?
It's not impossible, especially with Luka Dončić joining the Lakers.
That leads us to the second reason why LeBron has a chance to strengthen his already absurd legacy in the next few years.
With Luka now in purple and gold, LeBron is going to be able to transition into a much less strenuous role. With the 25-year-old superstar Dončić operating as LA's primary ball handler, Bron will be able to operate as a de facto Karl Malone on many nights for the Lakers, setting screens in pick-and-roll and bullying defenders down low whenever he feels like it.
In other words, Luka has the chance to extend LeBron's career even longer than we thought.
James has a player option for next season, and it would be shocking if he doesn't play next year. He'll turn 41 next December, but LeBron is still a top-15 player in the NBA on nights when he decides to step on the gas -- anyone watching the Lakers-Knicks game on Saturday night can attest to this.
But here's the thing ... what if LeBron played another four years after next season?
James could ostensibly sign a new, four-year deal with the Lakers, and he could even make that a team-friendly deal presuming LA would draft Bryce James in a couple of years, making LeBron the first (and probably last) player to play with two of his sons on an NBA team.
And here's the last part about this whole saga ... what if the Luka-led Lakers (with LeBron as Robin) were good enough to contend ... and what if they won a title or two?
If all of this happened by the time LeBron was 45 years old, his resume would be so overwhelmingly ridiculous that he might have a strong argument over Jordan based on longevity alone.
No one -- LeBron included -- will ever eclipse Jordan's eight-year period of acute greatness in the 1990s, but there is a chance for someone to overcome Jordan's resume based on a career so lastingly dominant that it becomes impossible to ignore.
If LeBron wants to play until he's 45, he certainly can. And there's no reason to think the Lakers won't be competitive between now and then.
If Bron won another title in LA, people would begin to have serious discussions. And if he won two, it would become tough not to call James the greatest ever.
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