EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — LeBron James said he woke up on his 40th birthday Monday feeling changed as he processed that he was in a new decade.

“Just waking up and being like, ‘Oh, damn, you’re 40?'” James said at practice. “It’s actually kind of ridiculous knowing where I am, seeing that I’m still playing the game at a high level, still such a young man but old compared to how many years I have in this profession have.”

When asked if his thoughts about achieving his career goal had increased as he got older, James replied: “Of course,” adding that he has a “very good” relationship with retirement.

But he made it clear that whenever he decides to call it quits, it won’t be because he’s unable to play “at a high level.” James figures he could play for another half decade if he wanted to.

“If I really wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level for about another time – it’s strange that I would say that – but probably another five to seven years if I wanted to,” James said on Monday. “But I won’t do that.”

James, in his 22nd season, is putting up unprecedented production for a player: averaging 23.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 9.0 assists on 49.6/35.7/76.7 shooting distribution. He has recorded eight triple-doubles this season and has just completed his entire 30s without a single single-digit scoring game.

James made it clear that once he decides to retire, he will not retire like Michael Jordan or Tom Brady did in their late 30s and early 40s, respectively.

“I would definitely miss (basketball),” James said. “But no, I’m not going to leave and come back.”

As for whether he wants to retire as a Laker, James said that has been his plan since he signed with the team in 2018. But he also acknowledged that the business side of the game can always influence a partnership’s plans.

“I think that’s the plan,” James said. “I would love it to end here. That would be the plan. I came here to play the last stage of my career and to end it here. But I’m also not stupid or too jaded to know the business of the game, to know the business of basketball. But I think my relationship with this organization speaks for itself. And hopefully I don’t have to go anywhere before my career is over.”

As the Lakers negotiated deals for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton on Sunday, James took stock of where Los Angeles stands in the NBA hierarchy and whether the opportunity to compete for championships will influence his decision to retire.

“Right now I think we’re a very good team,” James said. “I think we have a chance to compete with anyone in the league. Are we at championship level? Can we win a championship now? No, I don’t think so. But that’s a good thing because we have so much room for improvement and we also added two new people in DoeDoe (Dorian-Finney Smith) and Shake (Milton). So we’ll see how we integrate these people. This should be fun too. I’m glad you’re here.

“But we’ll see. I don’t know if that will determine whether I stay longer because it doesn’t change my career in any way.”

The Lakers welcomed Finney-Smith and Milton to their practice facility on Monday, although neither player attended practice. Coach JJ Redick said the hope is that both players will be cleared for the Lakers’ home game against Cleveland on Tuesday.

Redick provided a scouting report on the freshmen, both of whom he had previously played with.

“Dorian gives us another defender,” Redick said. “And he’s a guy who has held multiple positions throughout his career. He has developed into a premier spot-up, catch-and-shoot three-point shooter. I’m just happy to have him. Shake, another guy who can handle the ball, score the basketball and shoot the basketball. And was teammates with these two guys, Shake in Philly and Doe in Dallas. So I know what they bring to the pitch. I also know what they bring in terms of culture and locker room fit. It will be great for our group, both on and off the field.”

Redick said he plans to stick with the current starting lineup of Anthony Davis, James, Rui Hachimura, Max Christie and Austin Reaves for the foreseeable future. Redick said he has already spoken with Finney-Smith, who has been a full-time starter for nearly five straight seasons, about how he comes off the bench and what the Lakers believe he can offer. Redick noted that the starting lineup remains flexible in the long run and that he will continue to evaluate the group.

Finney-Smith said he’s looking forward to being in a winning situation and competing for a championship – and playing for a city’s “big brother” rather than its “little brother” like the Brooklyn Nets are for the New York Knicks were.

“I knew the chance of me being traded was high,” Finney-Smith said. “So it didn’t matter where it was going to be, I wanted to be ready because, again, I was already mentally prepared for the move. But I’m glad I’m here.

“I’m finally with the big brothers. So it feels good.”

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(Photo: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)