Novak Djokovic is one of the biggest stars in the history of tennis as a 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Djokovic is in the latter stages of his career at 38 years old, and it is unclear how much longer he plans to continue competing.
Despite there being questions over his future, Djokovic recently won his 100th ATP title and the semi-finals of Roland Garros.
Now former world number one John McEnroe has joined the conversation about Djokovic and revealed which NBA superstar he often compares the Serbian to.
John McEnroe thinks Novak Djokovic is like LeBron James
That basketball superstar is four-time NBA champion LeBron James, with McEnroe telling Corriere Della Sera how impressed he is by Djokovic’s longevity in tennis when discussing his recent results.
“I can’t help but admire him: with friends, I call him the LeBron of tennis,” said McEnroe. “Due to his age, he struggles to keep up with Sinner and Alcaraz but he remains a prodigy, a man that science must study!
“And he has boundless experience, his real asset. [Alexander] Zverev gave himself up to him by playing too much on the defensive but Jannik [Sinner] has a power and speed of shots that no one has today.
“Why should Novak stop, if he is still so competitive at 38? It leaves me speechless. The others come out in pieces from the comparison with those two young phenomena.
“Look at Zverev : he has never recovered from the lesson taught to him by Sinner in Australia… A great athlete, overwhelmed by the best of the best. But Djokovic doesn’t, he always rises again.”
Can Novak Djokovic win more Grand Slam titles?
Djokovic has won more Grand Slam singles titles than any other player in the Open Era with 24 to his name.
However, it has been over a year since he won his last major, when Djokovic claimed victory at the 2023 US Open.
Many see Djokovic’s best chance now at Wimbledon, having finished as runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz in 2023 and 2024.
However, if Djokovic is to win a 25th major he will have to make more history, by becoming the oldest Grand Slam singles champion at 38 years old.
Djokovic is not scheduled to play any ATP grass court tournaments and will head straight to Wimbledon, which begins on Monday, June 30.
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