lebron james early life biography

LeBron James

Basketball legend LeBron James has played professionally since 2003, won NBA titles with three different teams, and is the league’s all-time leading scorer.

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1984-present

LeBron James News: Basketball Legend Leads Team USA at the 2024 Olympics

The 39-year-old and the United States begin group play on July 28 at 11:15 a.m. ET against Serbia, with the game broadcast on NBC. The NBA all-time leading scorer is seeking his third Olympic gold medal alongside a star-studded cast of teammates including Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant .

Watch the 2024 Olympics on Peacock

Team USA relied on James to avoid two potential exhibition losses in the week leading up to the Summer Games. He netted 23 points against South Sudan—including the game-winning layup with 8 seconds remaining—on July 20 and scored the final 11 points in a 92-88 win over Germany two days later.

James earned an additional honor at the Games: leading the U.S. delegation as the male flag bearer in the opening ceremony along the Seine River on July 26. “It’s special to get an opportunity to represent your country in another fashion. I understand how prestigious this moment is,” James said . Joining him as the female flag bearer is tennis player Coco Gauff .

Quick Facts

Early life and high school basketball career, pro career: nba draft and teams, stats and scoring record, olympic games, wife and kids, philanthropy and life off the court, movies and tv: space jam 2 and more, who is lebron james.

Basketball player LeBron James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. James first garnered national attention as the top high school basketball player in the country before being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. With his unique combination of size, athleticism, and court vision, he became a four-time NBA MVP. After leading the Miami Heat to titles in 2012 and 2013, James returned to the Cavaliers and helped the franchise claim its first championship in 2016. Since joining Los Angeles in 2018, he has won an additional NBA championship and became the all-time leading scorer in league history.

FULL NAME: LeBron Raymone James BORN: December 30, 1984 BIRTHPLACE: Akron, Ohio SPOUSE: Savannah James (2013-present) CHILDREN: LeBron Jr., Bryce, and Zhuri ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Capricorn

LeBron Raymone James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. At an early age, he showed a natural talent for basketball.

James was recruited by St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to join their basketball team in 1999. As a freshman, James averaged 18 points per game. He helped the team to a Division III state title by scoring 25 points in the championship game. Word of his advanced basketball skills spread, and James received several honors for his performance.

As a high school sophomore, James was chosen for the USA Today All-USA First Team. He was the first sophomore ever selected for this award. His team also won the Division III state title for the second year in a row.

The following school year, James was named Parade magazine’s High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year and Gatorade Player of the Year. Following the end of his junior year, James was such a strong player that he contemplated going pro.

Deciding to finish his education, James had a tremendous senior year on the court. He averaged 31.6 points per game, helping his team clinch their third state title. The St. Vincent-St. Mary High School team also earned the top national ranking that year. Throughout his high school playing career, James totaled 2,657 points, 892 rebounds, and 523 assists. He would soon emerged as one of the NBA’s leading players.

With his impressive record, it was no surprise that James was the first player picked in the 2003 NBA Draft straight out of high school. The Cleveland Cavaliers signed the powerful young forward, and he proved to be a valuable addition to the then-struggling franchise. The team had ended the previous season in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

During the 2003-04 season, James made history when he became the first member of the Cavalier franchise to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. At only 20 years old, he also became the youngest player to receive this honor. Additionally, James averaged 20 points per game at this time and became one of only three rookies to accomplish this feat, putting him in the same company as Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson.

James continued to excel professionally in the NBA the following season, upping his average points per game to 27.2. He made NBA history again in 2005 when he became the youngest player to score more than 50 points in one game.

Superstar with the Cleveland Cavaliers

In 2006, James helped the Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Washington Wizards in the first round of playoff action. From there, his team took on the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals. James scored an average of 26.6 per game in this postseason matchup, but it wasn’t enough to secure victory. While the Cavaliers weren’t at the top of the rankings, James continued to receive special recognition for his individual abilities.

Also that year, James reached a new contract agreement with the Cavaliers. The team proved to be stronger competitors the following season, defeating Detroit to win the Eastern Conference. In the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, however, the Cavaliers lost their championship bid in four consecutive games.

During the 2007-08 season, James continued to help the Cavaliers improve their standing in the Eastern Conference. The team made it to the semifinals, where they were defeated by the Boston Celtics in seven games. In terms of individual performance, James had a stellar year, outperforming such rival players as Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson , by scoring an average of 30 points per game, the highest average in the NBA regular season.

Early in the 2008-09 season, sports journalists and fans began talking about James’ future in the sport. He had the option to become a free agent in 2010, and there was much discussion as to where James would end up. Some journalists identified the New York Knicks as a potential suitor for the rising player.

James made several references to his impending free-agent status, but he was sure to downplay the matter. “I am focused on the team that I am on right now and winning a championship... I don’t think about making a change at this point,” James told reporters.

Joining the Miami Heat

Shortly after becoming a free agent, James announced that he would be joining the Miami Heat for the 2010-11 season. His fans in Cleveland were less than pleased, and many considered his departure a betrayal to his hometown. Soon after James’ announcement, Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert wrote an open letter declaring James’ decision as “selfish,” “heartless” and a “cowardly betrayal.” Unfazed, James finished second in the league during his first season with the Heat, scoring 26.7 points per game.

The 2011-12 season saw major success for James and the Miami Heat. With his team’s victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, the superstar forward finally earned his first title. In the clinching Game 5, James scored 26 points and had 11 rebounds and 13 assists. “I made a difficult decision to leave Cleveland, but I understood what my future was about,” James told Fox Sports following the game. “I knew we had a bright future [in Miami].”

During the 2012-13 season, James made NBA history yet again: On January 16, 2013, at age 28, he became the youngest player to score 20,000 points, succeeding Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers—who accomplished this feat when he was 29—and becoming only the 38 th player in NBA history to achieve this distinction. James made a jump shot the final seconds of the game, bringing his scoring total 20,001 and leading the Heat to a 92-75 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Success followed the Heat to the end of the 2012-13 season: Following a hard-fought, six-game series against the Indiana Pacers to win the Eastern Conference, Miami outlasted the San Antonio Spurs in seven games to win its second consecutive NBA championship.

At the culmination of the 2013-14 season, Miami returned to the NBA Finals to face off against the Spurs again, this time losing to San Antonio after five games.

Return to Cleveland Cavaliers

In July 2014, after opting out of his contract with the Heat and considering other teams, James announced that he was returning to the Cavaliers. Hampered by back and knee problems, James missed 13 of 82 regular-season games in 2014-15. However, he was as dominant as ever when healthy, averaging 25.3 points and 7.4 assists per game. James led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, becoming the first player in nearly 50 years to reach the championship round in five consecutive seasons. However, injuries to star teammates Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving damaged his hopes of claiming a third title, and the Cavaliers lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.

Over the course of 2015-16, the Cavs overcame the distraction of a mid-season coaching change and breezed through the playoffs to earn a rematch with the Warriors, marking the sixth straight NBA Finals appearance for “King James.” In perhaps the crowning achievement of his career, he led his team back from a 3-1 deficit, scoring 41 points in both Games 5 and 6, before recording a triple-double in Game 7 to give the Cavs their first championship in franchise history.

Voted Finals MVP, James said: “I came back to bring a championship to our city. I knew what I was capable of doing. I knew what I learned in the last couple years that I was gone, and I knew if I had to—when I came back—I knew I had the right ingredients and the right blueprint to help this franchise get back to a place that we’ve never been. That’s what it was all about.”

The following year, James again paced himself and took charge when necessary, driving the Cavs through the Eastern Conference to make an incredible seventh consecutive appearance in the NBA Finals. This time, with former MVP Kevin Durant added to the mix, the Warriors proved too formidable for James and his teammates, who lost the championship in five games.

For all his accomplishments, James achieved another first early in the 2017-18 NBA season: After yelling at a referee during a late November win over the Heat, he was ejected for the first time in 1,082 career games. The superstar likely felt like yelling often during the course of a frustrating campaign, as an offseason trade that sent Irving to Boston for Isaiah Thomas failed to bear fruit and forced the Cavs to make another major deal before the All-Star break.

After averaging a career-best 9.1 assists in the regular season, James had to dig deep just to get the team out of the first round of the playoffs, delivering a brilliant 45-point effort to sink the Pacers in Game 7. The Cavs were again pushed to the limit two rounds later by the scrappy Boston Celtics, but James scored 81 points over the last two games to pull out the series win and make his eighth straight NBA Finals appearance.

Game 1 of the rematch against Golden State went down to the wire, thanks to James’ 51-point outburst, but Cleveland guard J.R. Smith inexplicably dribbled out the clock with the game tied in regulation before the Warriors pulled away for the win in overtime. That represented the Cavs’ best chance to get a leg up on their opponents, as the Warriors won the next three games handily to claim their third title in four years.

Afterward, with questions swirling about his future with the team, James revealed that he had played out the series with a broken right hand after punching a whiteboard in the aftermath of the Game 1 loss.

Fourth Title with Los Angeles Lakers

On July 1, 2018, James announced that he was moving on to the next chapter of his career by signing a four-year, $153.3 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, a storied franchise that counted Kobe Bryant , Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , and Magic Johnson among its all-time greats. The good vibes had worn off by midseason, as the Lakers sputtered through a 17-game stretch without their injured star.

With the team still struggling in late February 2019, James accused his teammates of losing focus over trade rumors, saying, “If you’re still allowing distractions to affect the way you play, this is the wrong franchise to be a part of and you should just come in and be like, ‘Listen, I can’t do this.’”

When the Lakers were officially eliminated from playoff contention in March 2019, it snapped James’ personal marks of 13 consecutive postseasons and eight straight NBA Finals appearances. Capping a difficult first season in Los Angeles, the Lakers announced that their star would miss the final six games because of his lingering groin injury.

Things got off to a much better start the following season, thanks in large part to the addition of athletic big man Anthony Davis to the roster. Spearheading the Lakers’ rise to the top of the standings was James, who became the first player to record a triple-double against all 30 NBA teams in November 2019. The following month, James added another accolade to his ever-growing list by earning AP Male Athlete of the Decade honors.

James won his fourth championship in 2020, when the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in a special playoff tournament held at the Walt Disney World resort following the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

All-Star Games and MVPs

James was selected for the NBA All-Star Game for the first time in 2005 and has earned a spot in the annual showcase in each of the next 19 seasons—an NBA record streak. In January 2018, the league announced James and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry had topped the ballots and would serve as captains for that year’s All-Star Game.

In 2006, James was named MVP in the NBA All-Star Game, a feat he repeated in 2008 and 2018. James has also been named NBA MVP in four seasons: 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12, and 2012-13.

In January 2018, at age 33, James surpassed Kobe Bryant as the youngest player to accumulate 30,000 career points and became the seventh player in NBA history to achieve that milestone. The feat put him just more than 8,000 points shy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ’s all-time record of 38,387 points.

James continued to surpass other legends in ensuing seasons, topping Michael Jordan ’s career tally of 32,292 points in 2019 to move into fourth place all-time. In January 2020, he eclipsed Bryant’s total of 33,643 points to move into third place, one night before his predecessor’s shocking death in a helicopter accident.

Then, on February 7, 2023, James scored 38 points in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder—setting the all-time mark with Abdul-Jabbar sitting courtside. “I didn’t set this as a goal, so that’s probably why it’s so surreal and so weird to me,” James said . “I never talked about being the all-time scorer in NBA history… until my numbers started getting closer and closer, and I was like, ‘Oh wow, this is crazy. This is weird, but I guess I’m doing it.’”

As of July 2024, James is also fourth in league history in assists (11,009) and eighth in steals (2,275). After 21 NBA seasons, James’ stats include regular season per-game averages of:

• Points: 27.1
• Assists: 7.4
• Rebounds: 2 offensive, 6.3 defensive
• Free-throw percentage: 73.6
• Three-point field-goal percentage: 34.8
• Field-goal percentage: 50.6
• Blocks: 0.7
• Steals: 1.5
• Turnovers: 3.5

James has competed on the U.S. Olympic basketball team during four Summer Olympic Games: in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2024. He made his Olympic debut at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece. He and his teammates won bronze medals after defeating Lithuania. Argentina took home the gold after beating Italy in the finals.

In the summer of 2008, James traveled to Beijing to play with the likes of Kobe Bryant , Jason Kidd, and Dwyane Wade on Team USA. This time around the Americans brought home the gold after defeating Spain in the final round.

James competed at his third Olympic Games in 2012, at the Summer Olympics in London, along with Kevin Durant , Bryant, Carmelo Anthony , and several other top players. The U.S. basketball team took the gold medal again, marking James’ second consecutive Olympic gold.

After sitting out the 2016 and 2020 Games, James is competing for his third gold medal at the Paris Olympics this year. He was also selected to serve as the male flag bearer for the entire U.S. delegation at the opening ceremony.

As of July 2024, Celebrity Net Worth estimates James’ total fortune at around $800 million. According to ESPN , he is currently the sixth-highest paid player in the NBA, earning just under $50 million for the upcoming season.

James’ fortune largely stems from his playing salary and a series of lucrative endorsements. The NBA superstar previously signed a four-year, $153.3 million contract with the Lakers in July 2018.

Off the court, James has inked several partnerships since turning pro, including a deal with Nike for $90 million that could net him over $1 billion over his lifetime. Some of his other endorsements have included Intel, Verizon, Coca-Cola, Beats by Dre , and Kia Motors. James is also an investor in Blaze Pizza.

On January 1, 2012, James proposed to his high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson. The couple married in a private ceremony with about 200 guests in San Diego on September 14, 2013.

LeBron and Savannah have two sons and one daughter together. In October 2004, they welcomed their first son, LeBron Jr., nicknamed “Bronny.” On June 14, 2007, Savannah gave birth to their second son, Bryce. Their daughter, Zhuri, was born on October 22, 2014.

Like his father, Bronny became a basketball phenom as a teenager and one of the most sought-after recruits in the country while attending the Sierra Canyon School. He played collegiately at the University of Southern California during the 2023-24 season before entering the NBA draft. The Lakers selected Bronny with the 55 th overall pick, pairing him with his father in Los Angeles.

“I’m going to hold him accountable, and he should hold me accountable when I do things not right. I can separate dad from teammate,” LeBron told Today . “And, I think, as he continues to grow, and as he continues to learn, I hope he’s able to separate son from teammate, as well.”

Outside of the NBA, James has worked to help others. He established the LeBron James Family Foundation in 2004, along with his mother, Gloria, to help out children and single-parent families in need. Among its many programs, the organization builds playgrounds in economically disadvantaged areas and hosts an annual bike-a-thon.

One of the world’s most recognizable athletes, James hasn’t been shy about expressing his views on social media. Among other issues, he displayed his support for Trayvon Martin after the teen’s death in 2012, and he has clashed with President Donald Trump .

James waded into delicate territory in October 2019, after Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey posted a tweet in support of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters that ignited a Chinese media boycott of NBA preseason games in the country. James said he believed Morey was “misinformed” about the situation, though he later tweeted that he mainly took issue with the executive posting comments that could have exposed traveling players to danger.

The basketball superstar has also shown a playful side on social media, such as when he posted a picture of cartoon character Arthur clenching his first during the Cavaliers’ slow start to the 2017-18 season.

Like many pro athletes before him, James parlayed his popularity into opportunities on the big and small screen. On television, James has had guest roles on the popular cartoons The Simpsons (2005), SpongeBob SquarePants (2009), and The Cleveland Show (2011), and appeared as himself on the HBO drama Entourage in 2009.

James made his major movie with a supporting role in 2015’s Trainwreck , a comedy starring Amy Schumer and Bill Hader. He later starred in Space Jam 2 , the 2021 sequel to the hit 1996 live-action and cartoon hybrid starring Michael Jordan . “The Space Jam collaboration is so much more than just me and the Looney Tunes getting together and doing this movie,” James told The Hollywood Reporter . “It’s so much bigger. I’d just love for kids to understand how empowered they can feel and how empowered they can be if they don’t just give up on their dreams.”

In 2020, the basketball great co-founded a production company called SpringHill Entertainment.

• I don’t judge my career by saying I want to be better than this person or that person at the end of my career because it’s not possible. The only person on and off the court to satisfy is me.
• I made a difficult decision to leave Cleveland. but I understood what my future was about... I knew we had a bright future [in Miami].
• I’m never in a defer mentality. I’m in attack mode. No matter how many weapons we have on the court, I’m still going to play my game.
• Sports carried me away from being in a gang or being associated with drugs. Sports was my way out.
• It’s not about the money. It’s all about winning for me.
• I never feel sad [about not going to college]. But I do wish I could have been part of March Madness.
• Basketball is my life.
• We all prepare differently, but there’s just one basketball on that court.
• We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. We didn’t want it to be easy. A lot of teams have won golds easy. We didn’t want it that way.
• LeBron stays humble just by being LeBron.

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LeBron James Biography Facts, Childhood & Personal Life

LeBron James, popularly known by his nickname ‘King James’ is an American professional basketball player.

LeBron, who is often considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, made his National Basketball Association (NBA) début in 2003 and became a star right after skipping college to join Cleveland Cavaliers.

He now plays in the NBA for Los Angeles Lakers.

LeBron is generally considered the “face of NBA” and the best basketball player globally.

This article on LeBron James’ biography facts, childhood, and personal life brings you a notable account from his early life to date.

Other highlights include his NBA/Basketball career, achievements and awards, famous quotes plus other on-screen and off-screen facts about his life.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by LeBron James (@kingjames)

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Table of Contents

LeBron James Biography Facts & Profile

LeBron James Childhood & Early Life

LeBron Raymond James was born on the 30th of December, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, the United States, to his mother, Gloria Marie James, and father, Anthony McClelland.

Gloria had him at the age of 16.

Anthony was an ex-convict with countless criminal records and, as such, was not interested and involved in their life.

Gloria was left with no other choice but struggled and raised James on her own.

When she realized that it would be better for her son to grow in a stable home, she let him live with Frank Walker and his family.

LeBron, who has always enjoyed the game of basketball since childhood, was, at the age of nine, introduced to an organized basketball game by Frank.

He played for Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball.

LeBron and his friends who led the team to enjoy success at both local and national level stirred controversy when they chose to attend St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, mainly a white private school instead of their local public school.

LeBron James showcased a natural talent for the game of basketball and was then recruited in 1999 by St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to join their basketball team.

During his senior year, he was named Ohio Mr. Basketball and was selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team for two consecutive years.

He was also the first Junior to be named Gatorade National Player of the Year in boys’ basketball.

LeBron James Basketball Career

Cleveland cavaliers (2003–2010).

James was the player to make the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft due to his outstanding statistics.

He played for the Cavaliers from 2003–2010.

James proved himself to be a valuable addition to his hometown team, and at the end of his first regular season, he was named the ‘NBA Rookie of the Year’.

He was the first Cavalier to receive this award finishing with an average of 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game.

James was also the youngest player at the age of 20 to receive this award.

These accomplishments undoubtedly placed him in the same class as  Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson .

In 2005, James made history when he became the youngest player ever to score more than 50 points in a game.

James maintained an outstanding performance during the 2007–2008 season, scoring an average of 30 points per game.

This placed him ahead of rival star players such as  Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson.

On July 1, 2010, James became a free agent.

Miami Heat (2010–2014)

On July 8, 2010, James announced that he would sign with Miami Heat for the 2010–2011 season.

His announcement drew intense criticisms from fans and sports segments.

Many considered his decision a betrayal to his hometown and team.

Shortly after he departed from the Cavaliers, owner Dan Gilbert wrote an open letter aggressively denouncing James’ decision.

As a result of his actions, he gained a reputation as one of America’s most disliked athletes at the time.

Unperturbed with these happenings, James finished second during his first season in the league with the Heat, scoring an average of 26.7 points per game.

During the 2011–2012 season, James and his team had a major breakthrough.

The NBA star finally earned his first title when the Heat defeated Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, scoring 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists.

At 28 years old, King James made NBA history when he became the youngest player to score 20,000 points, coming after Kobe Bryant of the Lakers, who achieved this at 29.

He became the 38th player in the history of the NBA to meet this feat.

The Heat saw yet another success during the 2012–2013 season, winning its second NBA championship consecutively.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2014–2018)

At the end of his contract with the Heat, James announced in July 2014 that he would be returning to his hometown team, Cleveland Cavaliers.

Precisely on July 12, 2014, he officially signed with the Cavaliers.

James, who was hampered by a left knee and lower back injuries, missed 13 out of 82 season games in the 2014–2015 season.

However, he dominated with an average of 25.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game.

James and his team got to the NBA Finals, making him the first player in about 50 years to reach the championship in five seasons consecutively.

Due to his teammates Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, his hopes of claiming a third title were impaired due to injuries suffered by his teammates.

During the 2015–2016 season, James led his team to win the city’s first professional sports title in 52 years, breaking the Cleveland Sports Curse.

The Cavaliers made history when they became the first team to come back from a 3–1 series shortfall in the NBA Finals.

His outstanding performance led him to be voted the Finals MVP.

During the 2017–2018 NBA season, James was sent out for the first time in his 1,082 career appearances for yelling at a referee.

Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present)

On June 29, 2018, King James terminated his contract with the Cavaliers and became a free agent.

On July 1, he announced his decision to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, a process which was completed on July 9.

Public reactions this time around to his announcement was more approving, considering the controversies that surrounded his first departure from the Cavaliers in 2010.

In the 2019–2020 NBA season, James won his fourth NBA championship and also the fourth NBA Finals MVP Award.

Lakers defeated Miami Heat in game six to clinch the championship.

James became the oldest player in the league to win the award the age of 35, and also, the only player in the NBA to win the award with three different teams.

Olympics (2004, 2008 & 20012)

LeBron James Olympic début was in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece, with the U.S. Olympic basketball team.

James and his team defeated Lithuania and won bronze medals.

During the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, James and his U.S. team defeated Spain in the finals and won gold medals.

The team included star players like Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and Jason Kidd.

James won his second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

The team included star players like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Carmelo Anthony.

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LeBron James Personal Life

Wife & children.

James married his high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson on September 14, 2013, in San Diego, California.

Together, they have three children:

• LeBron James Jr. (son, born on October 2004)
• Bryce Maximus James (son, born on June 14, 2007)
• Zhuri Nova James (daughter, born on October 22, 2014)

Other Facts & Trivia

In 2014, James was named the most powerful athlete in the world by Forbes.

Apple bought Beats Electronics for $3 billion in June 2014.

James, who owned a very small stake in the venture, reportedly netted around $30 million in stocks and cash.

On January 23, 2018, at the age of 33, LeBron James became the youngest player to score 30,000 points in NBA history.

He is the seventh player to meet this feat in NBA history.

The other six players who have achieved topped 30,000 points are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant , Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan , and Dirk Nowitzki.

James is a known activist.

He runs a non-profit organization known as The Lebron James Family Foundation.

The foundation, which is based in Akron, helps children in his hometown area.

In July 2018, his foundation teamed up with the Akron Public Schools to start an elementary school that supports children at-risk.

James has a half brother named Aaron McClelland Gamble.

They are both sons of Anthony McClelland.

Anthony also abandoned Aaron with his mother just from childhood, just like he did with LeBron’s mother.

LeBron James Highlights, Achievements & Awards

• 4-times NBA champion (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)
• 4-times NBA Finals MVP (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)
• 4-times NBA Most Valuable Player (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013)
• 16-times NBA All-Star (2005–2020)
• 3-times NBA All-Star Game MVP (2006, 2008, 2018)
• 13-times All-NBA First Team (2006, 2008–2018, 2020)
• 2-times All-NBA Second Team (2005, 2007)
• All-NBA Third Team (2019)
• 5-times NBA All-Defensive First Team (2009–2013)
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2014)
• NBA Rookie of the Year (2004)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (2004)
• NBA scoring champion (2008)
• NBA assists leader (2020)
• J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2017)
• 3-times AP Athlete of the Year (2013, 2016, 2018)
• 3-times Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year (2012, 2016, 2020)
• Time  Athlete of the Year (2020)
• USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2012)
• 2-times Mr. Basketball USA (2002, 2003)
• Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2003)
• McDonald’s All-American Game MVP (2003)
• 2-times Gatorade Player of the Year (2002, 2003)
• 2-times First-team  Parade  All-American (2002, 2003)
• 3-times Ohio Mr. Basketball (2001–2003)

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LeBron James Famous Quotes

“Sports carried me away from being in a gang, or being associated with drugs. Sports was my way out.” — LeBron James

“I’m never in a defer mentality. I’m in attack mode. No matter how many weapons we have on the court, I’m still going to play my game.” — LeBron James

“You can’t be afraid to fail. It’s the only way you succeed – you’re not gonna succeed all the time, and I know that.” — LeBron James

“We all prepare differently, but there’s just one basketball on that court.” — LeBron James

“I don’t judge my career by saying I want to be better than this person or that person at the end of my career because it’s not possible. The only person on and off the court to satisfy is me.” — LeBron James

“Warren Buffet told me once and he said always follow your gut. When you have that gut feeling, you have to go with don’t go back on it.” — LeBron James

See More: Biography Facts, Childhood, Career & Personal Life of Famous Basketball Players

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LeBron James Biography

Birthday: December 30 , 1984 ( Capricorn )

Born In: Akron, Ohio, United States

LeBron James is an American professional basketball player. He had a difficult childhood but showed tremendous talent early in his life. As a freshman at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School , he was pivotal in leading his team to two consecutive Division III State Championships . He began attracting national attention for his basketball skills and was equally good at football in which he garnered All-state honors. He was taken as the number one overall pick in the NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He became the youngest person in NBA history to score 40 points in a game and the youngest person to win the Rookie of the Year award. He was universally praised for his versatility, as he was used as a point guard, shooting guard, and small forward. His highlight-reel dunks and no-look passes thrilled his fans. In his third season, he led the Cavaliers to the playoffs. In his fifth season, he nearly single-handedly led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, only to be swept in four games by the San Antonio Spurs. LeBron James is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2021, he became the first NBA active player to gather $1 billion in earnings. He became the all-time leading scorer in the NBA, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2023.

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Nick Name: King James

Also Known As: LeBron Raymone James Sr.

Age: 39 Years , 39 Year Old Males

Spouse/Ex-: Savannah Brinson (m. 2013)

father: Anthony McClelland

mother: Gloria Marie James

children: Bryce Maximus James , LeBron James Jr. , Zhuri James

Born Country: United States

African Americans African American Men

Height: 6'9" (206 cm ), 6'9" Males

U.S. State: Ohio

City: Akron, Ohio

awards: 2012 - NBA Finals MVP Award - Gatorade National Player of the Year Award 2005-2006 - NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award

- All-Star Game MVP award - NBA MVP Award

You wanted to know

Where did lebron james play college basketball.

LeBron James did not play college basketball. He entered the NBA directly from high school.

How many NBA championships has LeBron James won?

LeBron James has won a total of 4 NBA championships.

What team did LeBron James join in 2018?

LeBron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018.

How many NBA All-Star appearances does LeBron James have?

LeBron James has made a total of 17 NBA All-Star appearances.

What is LeBron James' career scoring average in the NBA?

LeBron James has a career scoring average of around 27 points per game.

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LeBron James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, to Gloria Marie James and Anthony McClelland, an ex-convict. Gloria raised him on her own as his father was uninterested in being a parent.

Realizing he would be better off with a more stable family, Gloria allowed him to live with the family of Frank Walker who introduced him to basketball when he was nine years old.

He played Amateur Athletic Union basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars and chose to attend St. Vincent–St. Mary High School , a white private school, instead of their local public school.

In his senior year too, he was named Ohio's Mr. Basketball. He also made USA Today’s All-USA First Team and was named Gatorade National Player of the Year for the third and second consecutive years respectively.

LeBron James was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft. He was eventually named Rookie of the Year , finishing with averages of 20.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game.

At nineteen, LeBron became the youngest member of the USA basketball squad sent to the Olympics in 2004, but he spent most of his time on the bench.

He made NBA history again in 2005 when he became the youngest player to score more than 50 points in one game. He was selected for the NBA All-Star game for the first time.

With averages of 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, he became the youngest player in NBA history to be named to an All-NBA Team , which he achieved in the 2004–05 season.

In 2006, he helped his team beat the Wizards in the first round of Playoffs. Against the Pistons in the semifinals, even his average of 26.6 could not secure his team a victory.

After the 2006 Playoffs, LeBron James and the Cavaliers negotiated a three-year, $60 million contract extension with a player option of seeking a new contract as an unrestricted free agent.

The Cavaliers proved to be stronger competitors in 2007, reaching the NBA finals and beating Detroit to win the Eastern Conference. But they lost in the finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

During the 2007-08 season, the Cavaliers improved their standing in the Eastern Conference. The team made it to the semifinals, where they were defeated by the Boston Celtics in seven games.

The year 2008, was a stellar one for him as he outperformed rival players like Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson by scoring an average of 30 points per game, the highest average in the NBA regular season.

In 2008, he traveled to Beijing with the likes of Bryant, Jason Kidd, and Dwyane Wade as part of the U.S. Olympic Basketball Team and brought home the gold after defeating Spain in the finals.

Shortly after becoming a free agent in 2010, he announced that he would be joining the Miami Heat for the upcoming season. He finished second in the league, scoring 26.7 points per game.

LeBron James competed at his third Olympic Games in 2012, in London, along with teammates Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, and Kobe Bryant, and the team brought home the second consecutive Olympic gold.

At the end of the 2012-13 season, against the San Antonio Spurs , Miami transformed a seemingly impossible championship win into reality, winning their second consecutive national title with a 3-4 victory.

In 2014, LeBron James opted out of his contract with the Miami Heat and signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers . In the 2014–15 season, the Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to the NBA finals, and in the process, James became the first player since the 1960s to play in five consecutive NBA finals.

His 2015–16 season was marred by controversies, which also included the midseason firing of Cavaliers' coach David Blatt. In spite of all this, LeBron James performed admirably and became the third player to record a triple-double in an NBA Finals Game.

LeBron's stint with  the Cleveland Cavaliers ended in 2018 and thereafter, he signed a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

In February 2019, James became the fifth NBA player to reach 32,000 points. On March 6, 2019, in a game against the  Denver Nuggets, he surpassed Michael Jordan to become the fourth-highest scorer on the NBA list.

In the 2019-2020 season, the Lakers opened with a 17–2 record. LeBron went on to lead the victory charge against the Milwaukee Bucks and later against the Los Angeles Clippers. After entering the playoffs as the number one seed in the West, the Lakers reached the 2020 NBA Finals with only three losses. In Game 5 of the conference finals against the Denver Nuggets, LeBron scored 38 points. The Lakers eliminated the Miami Heat in Game 6. For his performance in the series, LeBron won the NBA Championship award and the NBA Finals MVP award.

In the 2020-2021 season, the Lakers lost to the Los Angeles Clippers in a 116–109 game. However, they defeated the San Antonio Spurs in a 121–107 win. In this game, LeBron became the first player to score 10 or more points in 1,000 consecutive games. Soon enough, he also became the third player in NBA history with 35,000 career points.

In March, LeBron sprained his ankle against the Atlanta Hawks and exited the game but not before scoring 10 points. He returned in April, after missing 20 games. He finished his season average at 25.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.8 assists.

In round one of the playoffs, the Lakers faced the Phoenix Suns. While LeBron played well and even scored a game-high 25 points in Game 4, the Lakers still lost to the Phoenix in six games. He finished the series with 23.3 points on average.

In the 2021–22 season, he was ejected from the game against the Detroit Pistons after an altercation with Isaiah Stewart. He later became the second player in NBA history to score 40 points and zero turnovers at age 35 or older. He also went on to set the record for being the oldest player in NBA history to make at least 25 points in ten games. 

In the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, LeBron was listed among the 75 players for the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. The Lakers also achieved the fifth consecutive All-Star win by beating Team Durant in a 163–161 win.

In March 2022, LeBron scored 50 points in 2 games. He also became the first NBA player to record at least 10,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists. In August of that year, he signed a two-year extension with the Los Angeles Lakers in a $97.1 million contract. In October, he recorded 28 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, the Lakers lost in a 111–102 game.

In December, the Lakers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in a 133–129 game. However, they suffered a loss against the Celtics in a 122–118 game. On his 38th birthday, he scored a season-high 47 points in a 130–121 win against the Atlanta Hawks.

In January 2023, the Lakers won against the Charlotte Hornets. The following month, they lost against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 133–130 game. He suffered an injury on his right foot against the Dallas Mavericks. After missing 13 games, he made a return against the Chicago Bulls. In April, he recorded 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists against the Houston Rockets. Next, he scored 37 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists in a 135–133 win against the Utah Jazz.

He finished the season with an average of 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. Later, against the Memphis Grizzlies, he scored 22 points. The game ended in a 117–111 win for the Lakers. In Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals, he scored 30 points which ultimately resulted in a 122–101 win for the Lakers against the Golden State Warriors. However, in the finals, the Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets.

LeBron James’ team Miami Heat won the NBA championship for two consecutive years in 2012 and he was declared NBA Most Valuable Player , which he had been winning for two years already.

He was part of the Olympic gold-winning American team at the Beijing (2008) and London (2012) games and a bronze at the Seoul Olympics (2004). He also has gold and a bronze FIBA Americas Championship medal.

The 2011-12 season ended with Miami Heat beating Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA Championship ; James’ first NBA title. In the final game, he scored 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. He has won three other NBA titles since.

He made NBA history in 2013 when he became the youngest and 38th NBA player to score 20,000 points at age 28—succeeding Kobe Bryant of the Lakers —who accomplished this feat when he was 29.

LeBron James married Savannah Brinson , his high school sweetheart. Together, they have three children; two sons: LeBron James, Jr. (born 2004) and Bryce Maximus James (born 2007), and a daughter Zhuri James (born 2014).

A philanthropist, LeBron James is an active supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of America, Children's Defense Fund, and ONEXONE . He has also established his own charity foundation called the LeBron James Family Foundation.

LeBron James is an accomplished businessman off the court, owning a production company, a stake in a soccer team, and several fast-food franchises.

He is a big fan of cereal and reportedly enjoys eating a bowl before every game.

LeBron has a photographic memory when it comes to remembering plays and game situations, which contributes to his incredible basketball IQ.

He is known for his philanthropic efforts, including starting a foundation that provides scholarships and support to underprivileged children.

LeBron is a devoted family man and often shares heartwarming moments with his wife and children on social media.

See the events in life of LeBron James in Chronological Order

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LeBron James Biography

December 30, 1984 • Akron, Ohio

Basketball player

Before LeBron James had completed his sophomore year of high school, basketball scouts were discussing his chances of playing for the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before playing his first regulation game for the NBA, James had signed deals with Nike and other corporations for multimillion-dollar product endorsements. Before he completed his rookie season in the NBA, sportswriters were discussing his chances of joining the most elite players in history in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Comparisons to NBA superstar Michael Jordan (1963–) became common, and some sportswriters began calling James "The Chosen One," indicating the hope that the rookie phenomenon would revive interest in the NBA that had declined since Jordan's retirement. LeBron James, by age eighteen, knew a thing or two about dealing with pressure. James's ability to cope with that pressure has proven to be a critical factor in his success. Sportswriters and his coaches agreed that James has shown uncommon maturity for a player his age, handling his newfound fame and the extraordinary expectations of others with grace.

During 2003, prior to his graduation from high school, James declared himself eligible for the NBA draft, the annual process by which professional basketball teams select new players to join them for the upcoming season. The Cleveland Cavaliers, one of the worst teams in the NBA, had the privilege of the number-one draft pick. The Cavs chose James, with the obvious expectation that this eighteen-year-old would lead the team to greatness. While James's first season with the Cavs did not exactly propel them to a championship, he did help his team win twice the number of games as they had the year before, and at the end of the 2003–04 season, James was named Rookie of the Year.

A team player

Born in Akron, Ohio, in 1984, James is the only child of Gloria James, who gave birth to him when she was just sixteen years old. Gloria struggled to provide for James during his childhood. When James was about five years old, he and his mother moved seven times in a year. For a couple of years during elementary school, James lived with a foster family. Gloria's longtime boyfriend, Eddie Jackson, has acted as a father figure for James, but he was not always around during James's youth, spending several years in prison for selling drugs and, later, for fraud. Regardless of any troubles they may have had, however, James and his mother have a close and supportive relationship. He told Jack McCallum of Sports Illustrated: "My mother is my everything. Always has been. Always will be."

"I don't want to be a cocky rookie coming in trying to lead right off the bat.... If there's one message I want to get to my teammates it's that I'll be there for them, do whatever they think I need to do."

Taller and more athletic than most other kids his age, James got hooked on basketball early in childhood. Dru Joyce II, who coached James for many of his early years, recalled in an article for the Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service that, while playing in a summer league during elementary school, James was an aggressive offensive player who "really liked to shoot the ball—a lot." Joyce remembered advice he gave James at the time: "I started telling LeBron about passing the ball, how great players make their teammates better. I talked about getting his shots in the flow of the game." Joyce assumed that he would have to repeat this advice many times, reminding the eleven-year-old to be a team player, but he was mistaken. James absorbed every word his coach said and immediately changed his playing style. "That was the last time I ever had to talk about LeBron shooting too much," Joyce recollected.

Another Rising Young Star: Carmelo Anthony

For the 2003 draft, the hype surrounding LeBron James nearly eclipsed another young basketball phenomenon: Carmelo Anthony (1984–). The number-three draft pick with just one year of college basketball under his belt, Anthony would have attracted even more attention than he did, had he not been drafted at the same time as James. His one year of college ball, playing for Syracuse University, had resulted in a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship for Syracuse, with Anthony named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, the NCAA championship series.

Anthony was drafted by the Denver Nuggets, a team that joined the Cleveland Cavaliers at the bottom of the NBA rankings. Expectations for Anthony, like those for James, were extremely high: the Nuggets would be relying on him to raise them from the depths and eventually make them playoffs contenders. Anthony performed impressively during his rookie season, racking up an average of 21 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. Perhaps the most significant statistic for his team: the Nuggets went from winning just seventeen games in 2002–03 to winning forty-three games in Anthony's first season.

Anthony grew up in the rough inner city of Baltimore, Maryland. His father died when he was two years old, and his mother, Mary Anthony, raised Carmelo and his three older siblings by herself. She pushed her son to stay focused and disciplined where basketball was concerned, and she pushed him to attend college before going professional. To fulfill his desire to play for Syracuse, Anthony had to leave his Baltimore high school to attend the prestigious Oak Hill Academy, a Baptist boarding school in Virginia. He studied hard to bring his grades up so he could get admitted to Syracuse, and he practiced basketball as often as possible. He helped the Oak Hill team to a number-three national ranking in 2002, and he earned the grades necessary to take him to Syracuse.

Anthony has been described as an unusually mature player who has maintained his down-to-earth style even in the midst of the money, celebrity, and pressure that have come his way. Among the first things he spent his money on after being drafted by the Nuggets were a home for his mother in Baltimore and a youth center there to replace one that was closed down by the police when he was growing up.

At the time, James played basketball with his best friends, including Dru Joyce III, the son of his summer-league coach, and Sian Cotton, the son of another summer-league coach, Lee Cotton. Those coaches, both of whom stressed the values of good sportsmanship and being a team player, helped James form the basis of his playing style. James and his pals Joyce III and Cotton, along with Willie McGee, played together every chance they could as kids, and they vowed to stay together all through high school. That childhood promise became a reality as the four boys all attended Akron's St. Vincent–St. Mary High School, a private school known for its basketball program. At St. Vincent–St. Mary, James not only became the school's star basketball player, he also played football for three years and maintained solid grades. James's philosophy about being a team player meant that he spent as much of his playing time passing the ball to teammates and setting up shots as he did taking shots himself, resulting in his extraordinary passing skills. His high school coaches asserted that James could have been a player who averaged fifty to sixty points per game. Instead, his average was closer to thirty points a game, but he helped his entire team play better basketball. Many coaches and sportswriters have described James's maturity and selflessness as a player; Keith Dambrot, who coached James for his first two years of high school, summed up the key to James's success in the Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service article: "LeBron is a basketball genius, there is no other way to say it."

Fast-track to the NBA

Many observers had wondered, from James's earliest high school years, whether he would go to college or attempt to be drafted into the NBA straight out of high school. Eager to test his skills at the next level, James considered declaring for the draft as a junior, trying to get an exception to the rule that would have barred him from the draft before his graduation year. He decided instead to complete high school, announcing during his senior year that he would declare himself eligible for the 2003 NBA draft. James's decision to go professional right out of high school renewed the debate over whether players should be allowed to play for the NBA at such a young age. Supporters argue that if the player possesses the skills, he should be allowed to earn a living playing his sport. Critics suggest that most high school kids would benefit more from going to college first, using those years to improve their playing, acquire an education, and become more mature. Ignoring the debate and following his own instincts, James opted to skip college and head for the NBA.

Coming off a terrible season, tying for the worst record in the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers had a chance to reshape their future in June of 2003: they had the number-one draft pick. They chose James, pinning their hopes on the eighteen-year-old player to turn their fortunes around. At six-foot-eight and 240 pounds, James certainly looked the part of an NBA player. But many wondered if he could live up to the hype surrounding him and compete in the far more competitive arena of professional basketball. When James made his official NBA debut in the fall of 2003 in a game against the Sacramento Kings, he answered the concerns of many doubters. The Cavaliers lost the game, but James played better than most rookies could hope for in a debut game—and better than any rookie straight out of high school—with twenty-five points, nine assists, six rebounds, and four steals. While he occasionally showed his inexperience and youth, and while he did not live up to the most outrageous expectations that he would play like Michael Jordan right out of high school, James did perform extremely well in his rookie season. He ended the 2003–04 season with an average of 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. He ranked among the top fifteen players in the league in a number of categories, including points per game, total points, assists, and steals. In April of 2004, James was named the Rookie of the Year for the 2003–04 season. Speaking of the rookie's innate abilities on the court, Cleveland power forward Carlos Boozer told McCallum of Sports Illustrated, "You can only call it court sense. The way he takes advantage of a situation right away can't be taught. He just has it."

"I can handle it"

Barring injury, James will earn $19 million for his first four years with the Cavs, an amount that seems downright insignificant when compared to his endorsements. In a sponsorship deal that will pay James more than any other basketball player except Michael Jordan, Nike signed the player to a seven-year, $90 million contract—and that contract was signed before James had even inked a deal with the Cavs. He has also agreed to promote Coca-Cola products, including Sprite and Powerade, and Bubblicious bubblegum.

Predicting the amount of money James will generate for the Cavaliers, for Nike, and even for other NBA teams, Forbes magazine suggests that those investing in James will be repaid handsomely. During his rookie season, attendance for Cavs home games increased by fifty percent from the prior season. James sparked so much hype that basketball fans around the country sought out tickets for the Cavs' away games, moving the Cleveland team from last in the league for road attendance to first. As for his corporate sponsors, Nike released the first shoe endorsed by James, the Air Zoom Generation, in December of 2003. At $110 a pair, Nike sold 72,000 pairs in the first month alone. Bob Williams, the CEO of a company that matches athletes with corporations for endorsement deals, described to Sports Illustrated in 2003 the hurdles James will encounter in his first few years in the NBA: "He has to dominate his position, take a downtrodden franchise to the playoffs and eventually to a championship. He will make a lot of money and live happily ever after. But no one has ever had more expectations put on him than this young man right now." When reporters have asked him about dealing with the enormous pressure placed on him, James has frequently uttered what has become a sort of motto: "I can handle it." And with one successful season under his belt—both on court and off—many commentators have come to believe that perhaps he can.

For More Information

Jones, Ryan. King James: Believe the Hype—The LeBron James Story. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2003.

Morgan Jr., David Lee. LeBron James: The Rise of a Star. Cleveland: Gray and Company, 2003.

Periodicals

Badenhausen, Kurt. "Slam Dunk." Forbes (February 16, 2004): p. 64.

Chappell, Kevin. "Can LeBron James Repeat the Jordan Miracle?" Ebony (January 2004): p. 124.

Finnan, Bob. "Early to Rise." Sporting News (October 20, 2003): p. 40.

McCallum, Jack. "You Gotta Carry That Weight." Sports Illustrated (October 27, 2003): p. 68.

Pluto, Terry. "LeBron James, Once a Lanky Kid, Has Come a Long Way to the NBA." Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service (April 20, 2004): p. K1569.

Taylor, Phil. "Carmelo Anthony Has a Secret." Sports Illustrated for Kids (November 3, 2003): p. 24.

LeBronJames.com. http://www.lebronjames.com/hsc/hscMain.cfm (accessed August 1, 2004).

"LeBron James." NBA.com. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/lebron_james/index.html?nav=page (accessed August 1, 2004).

"LeBron Watch." Cleveland.com. http://www.cleveland.com/lebron/ (accessed August 1, 2004).

Morgan Jr., David Lee. "The Rise of a Star." HoopsHype. http://www.hoopshype.com/articles/lebron_morgan.htm (accessed August 1, 2004).

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• The Inspiring Story Of LeBron James: From High School To NBA Champion

The inspiring story of LeBron James: From High School to NBA Champion

• Planet Sport writer
• 15 September 2023

NBA Champion LeBron James is without a doubt one of the most legendary sports athletes of all time, with even those who are not interested in basketball confirming his legacy.

At age 38, James is still one of the biggest sports stars of the US, but the end of his career seems in sight.

From his humble origins in Ohio to becoming one of the most record breaking athletes of the globe, James’ story is an inspiration to many Americans.

With a flaming aspiration to make it in professional sports, LeBron James has been able to achieve success and recognition very few other athletes have achieved.

This guide will therefore take a closer look at the incredible story of LeBron James, that starts at his childhood full of struggles to become one of the biggest basketball players ever seen in the NBA. This is the story of LeBron James: from high school to NBA Champion.

Struggles as a kid in Akron, Ohio

LeBron James was born when his mother Gloria Marie James was only 16 years old. He was born in the state of Ohio, where he grew up in the city of Akron. When LeBron James was still a kid, life was often a struggle for the Afroamerican family, as they often moved between apartments, not providing the family with the overall stability they needed. His father, a convicted criminal, was not part of his life nor did he support his family financially.

James grew up in the roughest neighborhoods of the city which was partially due to his mother Gloria having ongoing difficulties finding a job and maintaining her family.

Aware that her son needed a stable household to progress in life, his mother allowed him to live with Frank Walker and his family. Walker was a known youth American Football coach in Akron who saw potential in James and presented him to the sport when he was 9 years old.

James began playing at a local American Football team when he was in 5th grade.

Although initiating his sports activities in American Football , he switched to basketball when he became older.

In 2001, right before his junior year, James was the main topic of an article in Slam Magazine in which the 16-year-old at the time — standing at 6 feet 7 inches tall — was labeled as the potentially “best high school basketball player in the United States”.

Officially being given the title by the sports organization in that same year was also the beginning of James' mind-blowing career as a college basketball player.

First overall pick in the NBA Draft

A few years later in 2003, James experienced the first of the honors that would boost his career. He was chosen as the first overall pick in the NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Later throughout his career the Cavaliers would turn out to be one of the most important teams. At the age of 18, he became the youngest player ever in the history of the NBA to be drafted.

Despite his young age, he was able to show his extraordinary skills to the world, coming to an average of 20,9 points, 5,5 rebounds, and 5,9 assists per basketball game in his very first season.

These NBA stats led to the honor of being chosen as the NBA Rookie of the Year. At the time, he was the first Cavalier who won this prize.

He then graduated in his hometown from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School a year later in 2004 where he was part of the basketball team.

James was named to the USA team as a sophomore and was also selected for Today’s All-USA First Team. This was also the time when he was given one of his most known nicknames, “The Chosen One.”

After his junior year, a year after his decision to focus on professional basketball, James became a full-time pro.

Move To Miami Heat

James managed to set record after record, but his team, Cleveland Cavaliers, were having difficulties to win a significant title.

Frustrated by the overall sporting achievements of his team, James became a free agent in 2010.

He publicly announced he was going to make his first move with his new destination being the Miami Heat.

This turned out to be a good decision for James as he led them to the Heat to back-to-back championships in both 2012 and 2013. In both tournaments, James was chosen the NBA Finals MVP.

After having won his first championship titles, James said that he was going to come back to Cleveland. His return was established in 2014.

Return to Cleveland Cavaliers

James quickly led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, losing the finals against the Warriors.

The loss affected the small forward although he states that it would only add to his “determination in winning titles with the team and city he loved so much”. In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers made it to the Finals, giving them the opportunity to seek revenge as it was once again the Golden State Warriors they were playing.

At a 3-1 deficit, it looked like they were going to lose the series again, but the determination James talked about after the last lost Finals, turned out to be decisive as his team was the very first NBA team in the history of the competition to turn a 3-1 deficit into a victory. James was named the NBA Finals MVP.

It was the 3rd time in his already impressive career that he was given the honor.

Sign with the Los Angeles Lakers

In 2018, James made the move to the west coast as he joined the Los Angeles Lakers . He did this as a free agent, signing a contract of 4 years with the LA team. James was given the responsibility to lead and rebuild the team. The ultimate goal was to establish the team’s comeback to championship contention.

While doing so, at the age of 33, James still managed to perform strongly, leading to imposing stats. Despite his strong season, James wasn’t able to lead the team to the playoffs.

The team was facing a lot of injuries with James being one of the players who was affected by different groin injuries. Due to missing parts of the next seasons, his performances were inconsistent for a few years.

2023: The GOAT?

In February 2023, however, LeBron earned himself the title as the greatest basketball player of all time in the history of the NBA.

The number 6 of the Los Angeles Lakers did this by achieving the NBA career scoring record, which saw him surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at a total of 38,388 points.

The record was globally celebrated with international recognition for his performance. Now, at the age of 38, LeBron James has managed to set a long list of records and honors. These include winning a total of 4 MVP Awards, 4 Finals MVP Awards, and 2 Olympic gold medals with the US team.

He has also been selected as an All-Star for 19 times, chosen for the All-NBA Team for the same amount of 19 times (13 First Team selections) and was picked six times for the All-Defensive Team.

Still active, LeBron James is widely regarded as one of the best players and is often compared to Michael Jordan in the debate who is the greatest basketball player ever.

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LeBron James has been dominating the court ever since he entered the league in 2003. He’s considered one of the best basketball players of all-time and many will sit and debate him amongst the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant.

But did LeBron James go to college? When did LeBron start playing basketball? And of course, how many rings does LeBron James have now? All of these questions and more will be answered in our biography.

Lebron’s Early Life

Where was LeBron James Born? He’s just a kid from Akron, Ohio!

LeBron “King” James was born December 30, 1984, to a single mother when she was only 16 years old. Gloria Marie James gave birth to LeBron and his father, Anthony McClelland had various run-ins with the law so he was not in his son’s life as he was growing up.

James faced a lot of difficulties growing up as his family moved around a lot amongst some of the “less desirable” neighborhoods in Akron.

LeBron ultimately moved in with a local football coach when he was nine years old. Frank Walker, the coach, introduced LeBron to basketball. He quickly became a star player in his local leagues.

High School Career

In high school, James played for St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. He led the school to three state championships and was named Ohio’s Mr. Basketball three times. He was also selected to play for USA Today’s All-USA First Team as a sophomore.

During his senior year, he was widely regarded as the best high school player in the country.

LeBron put up 21 points and 6 rebounds per game during his high school career and ultimately entered into the 2003 NBA Draft.

Professional Career

How long has LeBron James been in the NBA? Let’s go through the details of LeBron’s career in the league:

Cleveland Cavaliers – 2003-2010

In 2003, LeBron James was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was only 18 years old at the time and was immediately hailed as a prodigy. In fact, he put up 25 points in his first regular season game.

James quickly lived up to the hype, averaging 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game in his rookie season. He became the first Cavalier to ever receive the NBA Rookie of the Year Award .

He went on to spend seven seasons with the Cavaliers, becoming the team’s all-time leading scorer in the process.

Miami Heat – 2010-2014

In 2010, James shocked the basketball world by leaving the Cavaliers to join the Miami Heat. He was contacted during this time by a number of teams but he ultimately chose Miami for the opportunity to keep winning.

James was heavily criticized during this time by analysts, fans, and even former players like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.

Along with fellow All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, James formed a “big three” that was expected to dominate the league. And dominate they did. James won two more MVP awards and led the Heat to four straight NBA Finals appearances, winning two championships in 2012 and 2013.

James averaged 29.7 points and 7.8 assists in February of the 2012-2013 season. The Heat had the third longest win streak in NBA history at 27. Everything seemed to be going right for the big three in Miami.

The Spurs eliminated the Heat in five games in 2014 where James averaged 28.2 points. He opted out of his contract and went back to Cleveland.

LeBron returns to Cleveland – 2014-2018

In 2014, James returned to the Cavaliers, determined to bring a championship to his hometown. He led the team to the NBA Finals in each of his four seasons back in Cleveland, winning the championship in 2016.

This was a historic moment for the Cavaliers, as they became the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Finals. LeBron helped pave the way averaging a near triple-double with 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists. He became only the third player in history to record a triple-double in a game 7.

Los Angeles Lakers – 2018-present

LeBron signed with the Lakers in 2018 and while there have been many struggles, he still dominates the Western Conference averaging 25, 7, and 8. The team in 2018 was made up of a controversial bunch of veterans and the Lakers struggled to find cohesiveness in the lineup.

James had a strong mid-season performance right up until he had the first major injury of his career missing 17 consecutive games. The team was ultimately unable to make the postseason until the 2019 season.

The team entered the playoffs as the number one seed and James helped them defeat the Heat in the Finals with a huge game 6.

On February 7, 2023 – LeBron scored his 38,388th point to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. This is a record that has remained since 1984.

LeBron James is a legend and will go down in history as one of the best basketball players to ever step foot on the court. He has contributed a lot on and off the court and has inspired countless young men to pursue their passion.

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LeBron James: NBA superstar's evolution from high school prodigy

• Published 4 March 2021

James has evolved off the court, too; he is a vocal supporter of Black Lives Matter and campaigns for social change

It was another unscripted moment of genius, another masterful flourish from a man approaching 20 years at the very top of his game.

LeBron James picked up possession in the corner during a mid-January meeting with the Houston Rockets. He looked to shoot - a three-pointer. As he did so, his Los Angeles Lakers team-mate Dennis Schroder teased from the bench behind: "Bet you won't make it."

"To make a bet official you gotta look a man in the eye," James later said. And that's exactly what he did; releasing the ball on its arc towards the net before quickly turning to face up the wager, his back to the court as the net rippled and bedlam broke loose.

James, in his 18th NBA season, had turned 36 two weeks earlier. Yet he appears to be having more fun than ever, and is still inflicting misery on the rest of the league.

Here, former coaches, team-mates and opponents chart the rise of this remarkable player; from teenage prodigy to fully fledged superstar and beyond.

Their analysis helps frame the ways in which this unique sportsperson has evolved through the years to remain not only relevant and successful but ahead of the pack.

The Prodigy - 2003-2010

In the summer of 2003, James was putting in extra work before his rookie season. Aged only 18, he had long been regarded as basketball's next great hope.

He was the cover star of the prestigious Sports Illustrated magazine while still a junior in high school. For years it had been predicted he would be the number one pick in the 2003 NBA draft - and sure enough he was. Selected by his hometown team the Cleveland Cavaliers, rarely has a teenager carried such high expectations into their professional debut.

Throughout that summer, James travelled to the Cavaliers' practice facility - a 40-minute drive from where he grew up in Akron, Ohio - for intense one-to-one training with Bob Donewald Jnr, one of the team's assistant coaches.

After one session, coach and superstar-in-waiting chatted during a cool-down routine. "I wasn't great today," James said. "It wasn't a great workout."

"You were alright. It's been a long week," replied Donewald, who had pushed the teenager hard across consecutive days of gruelling work in preparation for the 82-game season. "LeBron, I just want you to be great. That's why I'm pushing you."

"I am great," James responded, a flat, serious expression washing over his face. "If you want me to be the greatest ever, I'm with that."

No-one was more aware of the future that had been written for him than James himself. No-one better appreciated the work required to fulfil that promise.

"Every cut, every shot, every move he made - you'd have thought it was a Game 7 finals, the intensity with which he went," Donewald remembers of those early one-to-one sessions. "I'm trying to crush this kid in a workout just to teach him a lesson, and he is bringing it and bringing it.

"Everybody was hard on him too - the players, head coach Paul Silas. They were friendly, but they weren't going to hand it to this kid, and he didn't want it handed to him."

James also understood the highest echelons of superstardom are only attained when the pageantry of elite sport is embraced; that you create your own myth before selling it to the world.

An 18-year-old James playing in the Jordan Capital Classic of 2003

At half-time in a pre-season intra-squad scrimmage, some of the Cleveland players decided to do battle in an impromptu slam dunk contest. James watched from the sidelines while established players entertained the crowd with an array of athletic jams. But those who'd stuffed the arena to capacity were really there to see one man.

"He looks at me and grins ear to ear," Donewald says of the moment James decided to take centre stage. "He says, 'watch this'. I said, 'are you going to take over this place?' He said, 'I'm about to take over this place'."

James proceeded to run through a sequence of stunning slam dunks. Showcasing his once-in-a-generation athleticism, he rose higher than any of his team-mates, his head above the rim as he stuffed the ball through the basket. He passed the ball between his legs and around his back as he ascended. The crowd had got what they came for.

"The place went wild," Donewald says. "In the second half, he came out and just torched it. And from then on in practices, it was some next-level stuff."

When it came time to dub the rookie with a nickname, the NBA's new showman chose appropriately.

"I already have a nickname," James explained. "The King."

"Young buck, I ain't calling you King," Donewald objected. "I'm an Elvis Presley fan, and The King is Elvis Presley."

"OK, then," James said. "Call me Elvis."

Within three years of arriving on the NBA scene, James was already highly marketable

James' debut arrived on 29 October 2003. The Cavaliers travelled to face the Sacramento Kings for their season opener. Expectations were high, but the teenager still had more than his share of doubters. After all, he had skipped a step on the traditional route to the NBA, going professional straight out of high school - prep to pro - rather than using college basketball as a stepping stone.

On the cross-country flight to California, coach Silas turned to Donewald and asked: "This fella gonna deliver? He is a rookie."

"Yeah," Donewald replied confidently. "I think he is."

"I think he will, too," Silas smiled.

Cleveland lost the game 106-92, The King outdone by the Kings, but James could hardly have impressed more in defeat. His 25 points set a record for a prep-to-pro player on debut, bettering the exalted company of Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant.

"The expectations were just incredible," Donewald says. "We weren't talking about 'he needs to be a good player'. We were talking about 'he needs to be one of the best rookies ever'.

"Everywhere we went, there were crowds. Instead of going in the front door of the hotel, now we've got to go in the back door. Tickets are now hard to come by. Friends and cousins you haven't heard from in a while want to come to games.

"It was nuts. It was everywhere we went, because of him, and he just handled it. Nothing ever fazed him in that way, which was just so strange to me. This was an 18-year-old kid. A kid who'd just got out of high school."

James was the first Cavaliers player to be named the NBA's rookie of the year

James became the first player in Cavaliers history to be named NBA rookie of the year at the end of his maiden season. His per-game averages of 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists were the bare stats of one of the all-time great debut campaigns.

There was one area of criticism: his jump shot.

In the final two seconds of his debut against the Kings, James launched a three-point attempt, the confidence of a sublime overall display coursing through him. But the ball sailed past the rim and the backboard, straight out of play.

James finished his breakout 2003-04 season with just a 41.7% success rate on field goal attempts, an average which plummeted further to just 29% on shots from beyond the three-point arc. Both figures were short of the league-wide averages of 43.9% and 34.7% respectively.

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Again, James got to work.

"Usually it's the coach having to teach the kid that, but not this one," says Donewald.

"He just wanted to work on it. Practice is at 10? Hey, let's meet at nine. Let's work. Let's work.

"Confidence in his shot was the biggest improvement. Not that he couldn't shoot - that was the biggest misconception. I thought he could shoot even then. It was just learning how to get into the shot and get his feet down. He had the jump shot, but he had to get the feet right. During the year, he developed that pretty quickly."

The following season, James shot 47% from the field and 35% from three-point range. His field goal accuracy never again dropped below 47% in the rest of his career, reaching the 50% mark in the 2009-10 campaign when he was crowned the league's Most Valuable Player.

By that stage, James had taken Cleveland to a NBA Finals (losing to the San Antonio Spurs in 2007), established himself as one of the league's most dominant scorers - averaging over 30 points per game in 2005-06 and 2007-08 - and its best all-round player.

Without a championship, though, he could not claim to have delivered on his potential.

The Superstar - 2010-2014

Donewald was on his way out of London's Olympic Stadium when he was tackled to the ground by "what I thought was a bear".

As coach of the Chinese basketball team for the 2012 Games, he'd led a procession around the track for the opening ceremony. As his players made their exit through the tunnel, Team USA were about to enter.

"Elvis!" Donewald shouted, recognising the six-foot-nine 'bear' that had wrestled him to the deck.

"We did it! We did it!" James was shouting.

A month earlier, James had claimed his first NBA title and was named Finals MVP as the Miami Heat overcame the Oklahoma City Thunder by four games to one. He'd also been named regular-season MVP for the third time.

James' move to Miami in 2010 was tinged with controversy. Many fans and league insiders felt announcing which team he'd join in free agency via a live television special, entitled The Decision, was in bad taste.

"I'm going to take my talents to South Beach," James said on the air, paraphrasing a teenage Kobe Bryant's announcement that he was skipping college to join the NBA in 1996. Cavaliers fans were crushed.

But James' decision - if not The Decision - was vindicated by his success in Florida, where he linked up with fellow perennial All-Stars Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh to create one of the most-feared 'super teams' the NBA has ever seen.

(L-R) Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and James were a potent combination in Miami

The Heat reached four straight Finals, winning twice - in 2012 and 2013 - and James took his MVP haul to four, just two shy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of six, and one behind Michael Jordan and Bill Russell.

James turned 28 midway through the Heat's 2012-13 championship-winning season. He was at his peak; the full realisation of his teenage promise.

Orlando Johnson was part of the Indiana Pacers team that faced James and the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals that year. A rotation player in the same position, Johnson knew the task of stopping the unstoppable would fall to him in the minutes he saw.

"He sees the court like no other and he could do it all," Johnson says. "He could hit the mid-range; that's when his three-ball was really starting to take off. Just how strong he was; I think he might have been a little bit bigger then - 270, 280 pounds maybe. His passing ability, and just his speed. His speed was off the charts.

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"Trying to keep this guy in front, it was like, man, this is a different beast. During that time especially, he might have been at peak athleticism.

"I think what I respected in him the most was the way he could lock in on a game when it's go-time. You hear about his Game 7 performances throughout his career. He doesn't really lose those games."

James' once-in-a generation athleticism helped Heat to four successive NBA Finals

The series had been close, but the deciding game was a blowout. The Heat won by 13 points and James led all scorers with 32 while also contributing eight rebounds and a team-high four assists. They would face the Spurs in the Finals, and James would claim revenge for 2007's heartbreak thanks to a series-best 25.3 points per game in another 4-3 victory.

"We saw the levels he could take it to," Johnson adds. "At that time, I don't think any of us could reach it. When he locked in and took it to another level, it was different.

"A guy like him, he's going to go down as one of the greatest to ever play the game."

The Leader - 2014-2018

In 2014, James decided to reverse The Decision and take his talents back to Cleveland. In the Heat's fourth consecutive Finals appearance, just a few months before, they'd lost in five games to the Spurs. James opted out of his contract and returned to the Cavaliers as a free agent.

In the four years he'd been away, Cleveland had compiled the worst overall win-loss record (97-215) in the NBA. They finished 10th in the Eastern Conference for 2013-14.

In Miami, James was the centrepiece of a superstar ensemble. Continuing his quest for championships in Cleveland - who had no NBA titles to their name - would require an effort of leadership as much as skill.

James' return propelled the Cavaliers to a maiden NBA championship

With gifted young point guard Kyrie Irving already on the roster and All-Star power forward Kevin Love acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves, James' Cavaliers were not without talent, but the group would need inspiration and winning nous.

"I think it's the balance of knowing how good you are and at the same time respecting your team-mates and knowing you need them to win," says Jose Calderon, who played for the Cavaliers during the 2017-18 season.

"Some guys forget about that. He doesn't. He's a great team-mate. He was amazing. He was the first one there, and he worked every day. There were no days off."

James led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in each of the four years of his second spell in Cleveland, taking his personal tally of consecutive Finals appearances to eight. Those around him noticed how he once again elevated his game during the playoffs, year after year.

"He was so ready for that," Calderon says. "For some players, it's difficult to turn it on and off, but you could see he had one more level that was 1,000 times more of everything. More focused. More rest. More rehab. More of anything he needed to do to be ready."

Had they not coincided with the Golden State Warriors team of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and, from 2016, Kevin Durant, the Cavaliers might have collected more championship rings. The one they did win, though, will be forever remembered among the greatest NBA upsets.

The King got his hands on the big prize again in 2016

Trailing the Warriors 3-1 for the 2016 title, Cleveland fought back to claim a miraculous 4-3 triumph - a comeback on that scale had never been pulled off before in Finals history.

"Cleveland, this is for you!" an emotional James screamed at the end of his post-game interview on the court. He had delivered the city's first professional sports title. All was forgiven for his years in Miami.

Alongside Irving's winning shot in Game 7, James' chase-down block on Andre Iguodala - sprinting to leap and swat away a lay-up attempt - was the iconic play of the series.

It is telling that a signature play in the career of one of basketball's greatest and most complete offensive talents is a hustle effort on defence to snuff out what seemed a certain score for the opposition.

"That just showed the commitment," says Neal Meyer, an NBA executive who served as a video co-ordinator for the Cavaliers in 2009-10. "Giving a little bit extra effort to get there and make that block, which changed everything."

Calderon says: "When people ask me about LeBron, I always say: he's maybe not the best scorer; he's maybe not the best rebounder; he's maybe not the best with assists. But all around, I think he's the best player. He's the most complete player.

"He can play defence. He can see the floor; he can see his team-mates. He knows what he wants in every moment of the game. I think that's what sets him apart.

"They can't do what he can do on the court."

The Creator - 2018-present

When his contract in Cleveland expired, at the end of the 2017-18 season, James decided to move on once again, albeit this time in less controversial fashion. At the age of 33, he signed with the LA Lakers.

One of the NBA's storied franchises, the Lakers boast some of the game's most illustrious names among their club legends and have won 17 championships - but they hadn't posted a winning record since the 2012-13 season.

Returning the Lakers to their former glories would be a difficult task even for James, but one that would cement his legacy if he achieved it.

"He was still a leader, incredibly team-oriented," says Clay Moser, a former assistant coach on the Lakers who'd previously worked with James at the Cavaliers in 2010.

"Quite frankly, that's the way he's been since he was a young man, probably before he even hit double digits as a person. He's obviously ageing, but his skill-sets are all still incredible. He works like no other. He's an early riser, keeps himself in impeccable condition.

"He's all about winning. And he's all about working to make sure you're in a position to win."

In 2018-19, a groin injury meant James played only 55 of the Lakers' 82 regular-season games, the most he'd had to sit out in his career. LA finished with a 37-45 record. James missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

"I remember the game he got hurt," Moser says. "It was Christmas Day and we were at Golden State. I was close enough that I heard his groin pop a little bit, and he heard it too. He knew he was hurt bad. But, in classic fashion, he worked hard at his rehab, he worked hard at his therapy, and he came back as quickly as he could. Unfortunately for us, it was a little bit too late."

James has morphed into an assist king to get the most from Anthony Davis - and get the Lakers winning

Before the next season, 2019-20, the Lakers completed a crucial trade to acquire Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans. LA gave up three young talents and a handful of future draft picks to acquire one of the most talented forwards in the game.

With an elite scorer now on his side, James adapted his game. While still averaging a healthy 25.3 points - rising to 27.6 in the playoffs - he became more of a facilitator, posting a league-high and career-best average of 10.2 assists per game.

James withdrew into the backcourt, effectively acting as the Lakers' point guard for the majority of possessions. He would instigate moves from deep, spring fast breaks with arrow-like passes or draw the attention of defenders before offloading to an open team-mate.

"I think he probably could've led the league in assists any year he wanted to," Moser says. "But when they got Davis and they retooled the team in the manner they did, I think he set his mind to the fact Davis is going to be the primary go-to guy. LeBron was going to make sure everybody got easy looks at the basket, and that's exactly what he did."

Interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, 2019-20 ended with the final regular-season rounds and all of the playoffs taking place in a fan-less 'bubble' at Disney World, Florida.

It also ended with the Lakers collecting their first championship in a decade. It was a fourth ring for James and a fourth Finals MVP crown.

Having turned the Cavaliers and Heat into winners, James did the same for the Lakers

Powered by James and Davis, the Lakers are favourites to repeat their 'bubble' success in 2021. James is now 36 but showing no signs of slowing. With the care he has paid to his physical shape and wellbeing throughout his career, and with Abdul-Jabbar's all-time NBA scoring record in his sights - 35,171 to the leader's 38,387 - he is as motivated as ever.

"He's still one of the best players in the world," Moser says.

"He doesn't have these ups and downs in terms of his conditioning. He's always in great shape. He's always ready to go. He's incredibly strong - like, incredibly strong. He's got north-south quickness. He's got great hand-eye coordination. All those sorts of things.

"If he is declining, I'd hate to see guys that really are."

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LeBron James summary

LeBron James , (born Dec. 30, 1984, Akron, Ohio, U.S.), U.S. basketball player. A basketball prodigy, he was the consensus national high-school player of the year in 2003. He then was selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA draft. James quickly established himself as one of the league’s dominant players. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2004 and later won multiple Most Valuable Player awards (2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013). After the 2009–10 season he signed with the Miami Heat, and he helped the franchise win championships in 2012 and 2013. He returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 and guided the team to its first NBA title in 2016. Two years later he joined the Los Angeles Lakers and helped them capture the championship in 2020. In 2023 he replaced Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. James also was a member of the U.S. Olympic basketball teams that won the bronze medal in 2004 and gold medals in 2008 and 2012.

LeBron James

• Los Angeles Lakers
• Small Forward
• HT/WT 6' 9", 250 lbs
• Birthdate 12/30/1984 (39)
• Draft Info 2003: Rd 1, Pk 1 (CLE)
• Status Active
• Experience 20th Season

Career History

Career highlights, latest videos, maverick carter: lebron is dead set on owning an nba team, find tickets, 2024-25 pacific standings.

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LeBron James Bio: Early Life, Records & Net Worth

This article was last updated by Sujan on June 14, 2023

Hailed as one of the greatest players in NBA history, LeBron James is an absolute delight to watch on the court.

Started his rookie season after being drafted by Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft and gracing the sport to this date as quoted by the man himself, “I feel like I’m the best basketball player that ever played the game.”

His name is mentioned among the greatest basketballers of all time, with the likes of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, etc.

Even the most obscure game watchers can see his sheer excellence in each game.

King James is a four times NBA champion, four times NBA Finals MVP, and four times NBA MVP. Besides, he has been named NBA All-Star 19 times and NBA All-Star First Team 13 times, to name a few.

In 2022, James became the first and only player in the history of the NBA to accumulate over 10,000 career points, rebounds, and assists.

LeBron Raymone James Sr., better known as LeBron James, is currently playing for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers.

Playing for the Lakers, James made the record for most points (38,390), surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387).

Let’s look at some of the quick facts about one of the greatest players of the NBA.

Quick Facts

Childhood, Early Youth, Early Basketball Career

LeBron James was born in Akron, Ohio, the United States, to parents Gloria Marie James and Anthony McClelland , who has an extensive criminal record. James never had a father figure in his life.

James had a rough childhood. Life was a struggle for his young mom and himself as they constantly shifted from apartment to apartment in dodgy, unsafe neighborhoods.

Despite constantly struggling between two jobs and not having a stable job, LeBron James’ mother tried her best to shield him from the negativity, hunger, and general challenging status.

When she realized that he would be safer and better raised at the home of a coach, she let him live with the family of Mr. Frank Walter, a local youth football coach.

LeBron and his basketball journey began when he was in the fifth grade. He played the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars.

The team turned out pretty successful, and he and his friends decided to study in the same high school. James, Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, and Willie McGee joined St. Vincent – St.Mary High School, a predominantly white school.

High School Career

The Laker’s small forward was an excellent player during high school. He averaged 21 points and six rebounds in his freshman year.

Sophomore year was a fruitful year for James. He finished at an average of 25.2 points and 7.2 rebounds with 5.8 assists and 3.8 steals per game.

James won the title of Ohio Mr. Basketball and was selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team. He was the first-ever sophomore to achieve this feat.

“Slam” Magazine and its writer Ryan Jones spoke highly of him and said, “ the best high school basketball player in America right now .”

James also appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrator, again, the only high-school basketball player. He was the first-ever junior to be named the Gatorade National Player of the Year.

Moreover, he won the Ohio Mr. Basketball and USA Today All-USA First Team again because of his overall average of 29 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 3.3 steals per game.

LeBron finished the season with a loss in the Division II championship game. He did not qualify for the 2002 NBA Draft as a result of this loss. He filed a petition to change the NBA’s drafting eligibility rules unsuccessfully to enter the 2002 NBA Draft.

LeBron James was unsurprisingly good at football too. He played as the wide receiver for his high school football team.

He was even recruited by the Division I program of Notre Dame. James was named the first-team all-state and helped the team reach the state semi-finals.

Sports analysts, football critics, his high school coaches, and past and current players all concluded that James could have easily played in the NFL if he had tried.

Age, Height, & Body Measurements

Having born in the year 1984 makes James 39 years old as of 2024.

Similarly, LeBron celebrates his birthday every year on the 30 of December under the sign of Capricorn. Also, this sign is known for being talented, ambitious, confident, and passionate.

The small forward stands at a towering height of 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters)  and weighs  113 kg (250 pounds) .

Being an athlete, James has a broad and impressive physique , and he measures 46 inches (116 cm) in the chest, 17 inches (43 cm) in the biceps, and 36 inches (91 cm) in the waist.  

Likewise, his hand length is 9/9.25 inches (23 cm) , which is less than average for somebody of his height.

More on physical attributes, LeBron has black hair and black eyes that give him a bold look.

LeBron James’ Diet Plan

LeBron’s diet is every bit as epic as the man himself. He starts his day with a meal full of protein and fruit. His breakfast consists of egg white omelets, berries, yogurt, and gluten-free pancakes.

For snacks, LeBron likes to have fruits and also likes to include yogurt, apples, almond butter, and protein powder.

Before his game, LeBron focuses on low-fat proteins and more carbs. So, he usually eats veggies, whole-wheat pasta, and chicken breast.

When the game is over, LeBron usually takes a protein shake. Or, if he wants to continue the healthy trend, he usually eats chicken breast, broccoli, or a salad.

James eats filet mignon, lobster tail, or some chicken Parmesan with a glass of wine for dinner.

Not to mention LeBron is a wine lover. His Instagram handle is mostly filled with pictures of wine, with the caption #VinoChronicles.

Professional Career

Rookie season.

LeBron James was selected as the first overall draft by his hometown team, Cleveland Cavaliers, in the 2003 NBA Draft.

He debuted with an impressive record-breaking score of 25 points in a game against the Sacramento Kings.

Eventually, he won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and was the first in the Cavaliers to have won the award.

James received his NBA All-Star Game selection in 2004-05 after contributing 13 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in a winning effort for the Eastern Conference.

Many people noticed his rapid development and called him a great player and an exception to all the rules. He scored 56 points in a single game and broke the record of Cleveland against the Raptors.

LeBron led the East to victory in the 2006 All-Star Game and was named the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player. He finished second in overall NBA Most Valuable Player Award voting.

The Cavs qualified for the playoffs under the leadership of James for the first time since 1998 but lost to Detroit Pistons.

James’ performance in 2007 dropped, and sports analysts cited the lack of effort and focus.

However, in Game 5 of the NBA Conference Finals, James scored an impressive 48 points with nine rebounds, seven assists, and scoring 29 of Cleveland’s 30 points. That game is lauded as one of the best games in the history of postseason games.

The small forward also bagged the MVP of the NBA All-Star game for the 2007-08 season.

2008-2010: MVP Seasons

James finished second in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award voting and secured a position in his first NBA All-Defensive Team in the 2008-09 season.

LeBron led the Cavaliers to win the franchise record 66-16 and was just one game short of matching the NBA history’s best home record. He was also the first Cavalier to win the MVP award.

The Cavaliers became a fantastic team led by James. Even when he had to limit his responsibilities due to minor injuries, the Cavaliers did a tremendous job keeping their record.

LeBron James was heavily criticized for his horrible gameplay at the fifth game of the playoffs of the 2009-10 season and was booed by the Cavaliers’ home crowd as he walked off the court after the embarrassing loss.

After James became a free agent in 2010, several teams, like the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and New Jersey Mets, were interested in signing the former Cavalier.

He decided to sign with the Heat on a live show from ESPN called “The Decision” and raised about $2.5 million for charity.

After the decision, James became the subject of intense criticism by sports analysts, executives, and fans and was scrutinized for the unnecessary show and suspense.

No one, not even the teams that wanted him knew about his final choice. He quickly became one of the most disliked athletes in the country.

The small forward officially signed through a sign-and-trade deal with the Heat on July 10, 2010.

LeBron became more and more aggressive with his game. The Heat finished as the second seed of the East Conference and eventually advanced to the finals.

James put on a pretty average game later and, as a result, lost to the Mavericks in the finals.

Not only did James receive criticism for his performance and the Heat’s loss, but he was also abashed by the loss and started training and practicing more in the offseason with Hakeem Olajuwon.

Miami Heat began the 2011-12 season with a franchise-best record of 18-6. He also became NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the third time with an average of 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game on 52% shooting.

Despite losing a teammate with an injury in the second round of the playoffs, James’s performance did not falter. He continuously played an excellent game, leading the Heat to its second and James’ first championship.

The New York Times defined the match as:

“a CAREER-DEFINING performance for LeBron James”

James was voted the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player with 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game.

In the 2012-13 season, King James averaged 26.8 points, eight rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game and was named MVP for the fourth time.

In Game 6 of the Conference Finals, he recorded his second triple-double of the series and was named Finals MVP for the second straight season.

Final Season In Miami

James performed exceptionally well in the final season with the Miami Heat. He scored a career-high and a franchise-record 61 points against Charlotte Bobcats.

James helped Miami earn their fourth consecutive Finals berth, defeating Brooklyn Nets and Pacers. His leg cramps prevented him from playing in the fourth quarter in a loss against the Spurs. For the finals, he averaged 28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game.

Return To The Cavaliers

Everyone responded well to James’ return to the Cavaliers. Along with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving , he created new records and achievements for himself and the Cavaliers.

He won the championship for the Cleveland Cavaliers, their first-ever championship in 52 years, and was named for the Finals MVP selection.

Moreover, the 2016-17 season was full of injuries for James and unexpected losses for the Cavaliers. LeBron describes the season as the most strange year of his career.

He finished the season with a below-average performance of 26.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 8.7 assists, AND 4.1 turnovers per game.

In the 2017-18 season, LeBron won his third All-Star Game MVP Award after registering 29 points, ten rebounds, and eight assists in a win over Team Curry.

The small forward led his team to the finals and scored 51 points in the first game. However, he injured his hand punching a wall after facing defeat and missed the remainder of the series.

Los Angeles Lakers

James opted out of his contract with the Cavaliers and became an unrestricted free agent. The former Cavaliers signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on July 1, 2018.

The decision received mixed criticisms, but none were as harsh as after his first departure from the Cavaliers.

The Lakers expected James to take their team to the championship. However, after suffering from a groin injury, his first major career injury, the Lakers failed to qualify for the postseason.

He was ruled out for the remainder of the 2018-2019 season and was named the All-NBA Third Team, marking the first time in 12 years that he did not play in the All-NBA Third Team.

In the 2020 season, James led the Lakers with a good start, matching their franchise-best of 17-2. The small forward surpassed Kobe Bryant for third on the all-time regular season scoring list the day before Bryant’s death. 

After the regular season resumed in July post-pandemic, LeBron led the Lakers to the NBA title after defeating his former team Heat and was named the Finals MVP for the fourth time.

With this championship, James became the fourth player to win the championship with three different franchises.

2020-Present

On February 18, 2020, in a 109-98 loss to the Nets, James became the third player in the history of the NBA with 35,000 career points, the youngest player to reach the milestone at 36 years and 50 days.

The small forward finished the season averaging 25.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.8 assists. He was named the All-NBA Second Team for the third time and made his 17th consecutive All-NBA Team selection.

He became the oldest player in NBA history to record at least 25 points in ten straight games at 37 years.

In March, James recorded two 50-point games and became the first Lakers player since Kobe in 2008 to achieve this feat.

James continued playing and records followed, as he became the only player in NBA history to record at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists.

On December 28, 2022, James appeared for his 1,393rd game, breaking a tie with Tim Duncan for the 10th most in NBA history.

On February 7, 2023, LeBron James made yet another record of the highest career points (38,390), surpassing Kareen Abdul-Jabbar in a 130-133 loss against Oklahoma City Thunder.

As of this writing, his career points sit at 38,450.

National Team Career

LeBron played for the USA team for the first time in the 2004 Athens Olympics but was mostly benched.

He competed in the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship 2007, and the 2010 FIBA World Championship. King James also represented Team USA in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

How Many NBA Finals Has LeBron James Played In?

LeBron James has played in the NBA Finals ten times in 18 years. Have a look at his NBA finals record and appearances:

• 2007 Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. San Antonio Spurs ( Loss to Spurs 0-4)
• 2011 Finals: Dallas Mavericks vs. Heat ( Loss to Mavericks 2-4)
• 2012 Finals: Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Won against Thunder 4-1)
• 2013 Finals: San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat ( Won against Spurs 4-3)
• 2014 Finals: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs ( Loss to Spurs 1-4)
• 2015 Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors (Loss to Warriors 2-4)
• 2016 Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors (Won against Warriors 4-3)
• 2017 Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors (Loss to Warriors 0-4)
• 2018 Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors (Loss to Warriors 1-4)
• 2020 Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat (Won against Heat 4-2)

Career stats

Awards & Achievements

• 2001–2003: 3× Ohio Mr. Basketball 
• 2002-2003:2× First-team  Parade  All-American, McDonald’s All-American Game MVP (2003), 2× national high school player of the year
• 2004:NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA All-Rookie First Team 
• 2005: All-NBA Second Team
• 2006: NBA All-Star Game MVP 
• 2007:All-NBA Second Team
• 2008: NBA scoring champion, NBA All-Star Game MVP 
• 2009-2013: 5× NBA All-Defensive First Team, 4×NBA Most Valuable Player 
• 2012: USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year,  Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, NBA Finals MVP, NBA champion
• 2013: AP Athlete of the Year, NBA Finals MVP, NBA champion
• 2014:NBA All-Defensive Second Team
• 2016:Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, AP Athlete of the Year, NBA Finals MVP, NBA champion
• 2017: J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award 
• 2018: AP Athlete of the Year, NBA All-Star Game MVP 
• 2019: All-NBA Third Team
• 2020:Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, Time Athlete of the Year, AP Athlete of the Year, NBA assists leader, NBA Finals MVP, NBA champion 
• 2006, 2008–2018, 2020: 13× All-NBA First Team 
• 2005–2021: 17× NBA All-Star

Is LeBron James Married? Personal Life & Wife

LeBron is happily married to his wife,  Savannah Brinson . James and Savannah met back in high school and started dating.

Interestingly, during their senior year in high school, Savannah discovered she was pregnant with James’ first child.

During that time, James was just in his rookie season. The couple decided to keep the child. In 2004, they welcomed their first child, a baby boy, LeBron James Jr., nicknamed  Bronny.

Later, LeBron and Savannah tied the knot in 2013. The couple is also blessed with two additional children, a son Bryce James (born in 2007) and a daughter Zhuri James (born in 2014).

Net Worth & Income

Per Forbes, James’ net worth is estimated at around $1 billion as of May 2024.

The NBA star  is one of the world’s highest-paid athletes. He receives about $44 million as an average annual salary and bags some extra from several endorsement deals.

The NBA star’s billion-dollar fortune breakdown; The Spring Hill Company ($300 million), FENWAY Sports Group ($90 million), Real estate ($80 million), Blaze Pizza ($30 million, Cash, and other investments ($500 million).

Moreover, LeBron has multiple properties, including a $9 million  home in Florida and a  $21 million  home in  Los Angeles . 

Social Media Presence

All-time NBA points leader, LeBron, is active on different socials. He uses these platforms to promote different deals.

James is available on Instagram under the handle @kingjames, on Facebook @LeBron James, and on Twitter @KingJames.

Instagram:  144m followers

Twitter: 52.7m followers

Facebook: 27m followers

An American professional basketball player with the highest career point has garnered a lot of fans worldwide.

The above graph gives brief information about the popularity of LeBron James based on Google searches in the United States over a year.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

What age could lebron james dunk.

LeBron James first dunked when he was 13 years old. He was 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall at the time.

Has LeBron James retired?

LeBron James is still playing and has not retired. However, James once told in media that he'd retire before turning 46 because his wife would get mad if he played that long. He said, “ I don't think that I can go until I'm 46. We can go from 26 to 36, but I don't think I can go to 46. I also don't think my wife would like that very much .”

What is the LeBron James logo?

LeBron's James logo was created in 2003 when he signed a contract with Nike to produce shoes and other apparel featuring his name and logo.

What is the total point of LeBron James?

LeBron James has scored total points of 38,450 in the NBA and is ranked #1 scorer in NBA history.

What is LeBron James' haircut called?

LeBron James' Haircut is called Buzzcut, with a little bit of funk and razor lines on the sides.

Does LeBron James wear glasses?

Yes, LeBron James is often seen wearing nerd glasses and black framed specs.

What is LeBron James Jr. ranking?

LeBron James Jr. was ranked 6th in the annual ESPN NBA rank in 2022.

Is LeBron James a billionaire?

As per Forbes, King James is a billionaire.

How many times has LeBron won the MVP award?

LeBron has won the MVP award four times.

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LeBron James

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Introduction

(born 1984). After entering the National Basketball Association (NBA) directly from high school in 2003, LeBron James quickly established himself as one of the league’s superstars. A small forward who was capable of playing multiple positions, James was selected as the NBA’s most valuable player (MVP) in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013. He was only the 10th player in NBA history to have earned that honor in consecutive seasons. James led three teams to NBA championships: the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. In 2023 he broke the NBA record for total career points scored.

LeBron Raymone James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. In high school he was named Ohio’s Mr. Basketball (player of the year) three times. He became a national media sensation in his junior year when he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated . In his senior season he was the consensus national high-school player of the year. He was chosen by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft.

Professional Career

James made an immediate impact on the Cavaliers. He led the team in scoring, steals, and minutes played during the 2003–04 season en route to claiming the NBA’s rookie of the year award. He was named to the NBA All-Star team for the first time in 2005. In 2007 he guided Cleveland to the franchise’s first berth in the NBA finals. Although James posted a spectacular average of 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game throughout the playoffs that year, the Cavaliers were swept in the finals by the San Antonio Spurs .

During the 2007–08 season James led the NBA in scoring with an average of 30 points per game. He became the youngest player in league history to tally 10,000 career points. The following season he piloted the Cavaliers to a team-record 66 regular-season wins. During both the 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons James continued to display his prolific scoring ability. He averaged 28.4 and 29.7 points per game, respectively.

At the end of the 2009–10 season James became arguably the most sought-after free agent in NBA history when his contract with the Cavaliers expired. He began a prolonged courtship process with a number of teams. In an hour-long television special on the ESPN sports cable network, James announced that he was going to sign with the Miami Heat . He helped Miami reach the NBA finals in his first year with the team, but the Heat lost the championship to the Dallas Mavericks . In the 2011–12 season James averaged 27.1 points per game and won his third MVP award while leading Miami to its second consecutive NBA finals appearance. Behind his stellar play, the Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the championship. James was named the finals MVP.

In the 2012–13 season James averaged 26.8 points and 8 rebounds per game. He earned his fourth MVP award and led the Miami Heat to another NBA championship. His team defeated the San Antonio Spurs by four games to three in the finals, and James was named finals MVP for the second time. In 2013–14 he again led the Heat to an appearance in the NBA finals. Miami, however, lost its rematch with the Spurs in a five-game series. After that finals loss, James opted out of his contract with the Heat and decided to rejoin the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2014–15 he guided a young and inexperienced Cavaliers team to the finals. However, the team lost a six-game series to the Golden State Warriors .

In 2015–16 James led the Cavaliers to a finals rematch against the Warriors, who had set a league record with 73 wins during the regular season. The Cavaliers became the first team to come back from a 3–1 finals deficit to win an NBA title. In so doing, the team notched the first title in franchise history and ended a 52-year title drought for Cleveland professional sports teams. James averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.6 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game in the finals. He was unanimously named finals MVP.

In 2016–17 James set career highs with averages of 8.7 assists and 8.6 rebounds per game during the regular season. In the Eastern Conference playoffs, he tallied his 5,988th career postseason point to break Michael Jordan ’s all-time NBA playoff scoring record. James led the Cavaliers to a third consecutive matchup against the Warriors in the NBA finals, but his team lost the series in five games.

In 2017–18 James averaged 27.5 points per game during the regular season and 34.0 points per game in the playoffs. His postseason highlights included a 51-point performance in the first game of the NBA finals, in which the Cavaliers again faced Golden State. The Cavaliers, however, lost that game and eventually were swept by the Warriors in four games. In the following off-season James became a free agent and signed a contract to play for the Los Angeles Lakers .

In the 2018–19 season James continued to play at a high level. He averaged 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. He missed significant playing time, however, because of an injury (a strained groin) for the first time in his career. The Lakers struggled in his absence. The team ultimately finished the season with a 37–45 record, ending James’s personal playoff streak at 13 seasons. The following season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic , which caused a four-month suspension. Play resumed in July 2020 with a shortened schedule. The Lakers ultimately defeated the Miami Heat to claim the franchise’s 17th NBA title. James averaged 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game, earning him his fourth finals MVP award.

James led the Lakers to another playoff appearance in 2020–21, but the team lost its opening series to the Phoenix Suns . In March 2022 James suffered an ankle injury that caused him to miss the remainder of the 2021–22 season. The Lakers missed the playoffs after finishing the season with a 33–49 record. On February 7, 2023, James scored his 38,388th career point to become the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .

Beyond the NBA

In addition to his achievements in the NBA, James played in the Olympic Games . He was a member of the U.S. men’s basketball teams that won the bronze medal at the 2004 Games and the gold medal at both the 2008 and 2012 Games. James did not return to the Olympics until the 2024 Games, held in Paris, France. He served as one of the flag bearers for the United States during the opening ceremony in Paris. When competition got underway, James helped lead the U.S. team to a fifth consecutive gold medal.

James published a memoir,  Shooting Stars  (cowritten with Buzz Bissinger), in 2009. It chronicles his years as a high-school standout. In 2021 James starred in Space Jam: A New Legacy , a live action–animated comedy film that features Bugs Bunny and other cartoon characters.

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LeBron James

• Occupation: Basketball Player
• Born: December 30, 1984 in Akron, Ohio
• Nicknames: King James
• Best known for: Making the "Decision" to move to Miami, but later returning to Cleveland

• He was the NBA Finals MVP and Champion in 2012.
• He was the NBA MVP multiple times.
• He is the only player in NBA history to average at least 26 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists over their career (at least so far in 2020).
• He was the first forward to average more than 8.0 assists per game.
• The youngest player to score 40 points in a game.
• The youngest player to get a triple-double in the playoffs.
• He won the Olympic Gold Medal in 2008 and 2012.
• He was named to the first team all state football team his sophomore year of high school as a wide receiver.
• His nickname is King James and he has a tattoo saying "Chosen 1".
• He was the youngest player to be drafted by the NBA number 1 at the age of 18.
• LeBron has hosted Saturday Night Live.
• He has two sons and a daughter (Bronny James, Bryce Maximus James, Zhuri James)
• LeBron is 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 250 pounds.
• He shoots mostly with his right-hand even though he is actually left-handed.
• James is a big New York Yankees fans and made Cleveland fans angry when he wore a Yankees hat to a Yankees vs. Indians game.

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The Story of LeBron James’s 38,390 Points, by Those Who Were There

Teammates. Competitors. Victims of his memes. They each have a story about James’s road to breaking the N.B.A. career scoring record.

Credit... WalkerTKL

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By Sopan Deb

• Feb. 7, 2023

Stephen Curry’s favorite memory of playing against LeBron James isn’t from any of the three championships he won with the Golden State Warriors against James’s teams. It was from his 2009-10 rookie season, when James was in his seventh year with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

They first met when James attended one of Curry’s college games for Davidson . The night before their first N.B.A. clash, in Cleveland, James hosted Curry at his home.

“For me, as a rookie, it was a whirlwind of excitement,” Curry said. He added: “The fact that he’s as big as he is, as strong as he is, as skilled as he is, there’s never a time he can’t get a shot off.”

James scored 31 points, most coming from near the rim or at the free-throw line . He hit just one 3-pointer.

More than a decade later, James’s game looks different, though he can still dunk as if the rim insulted his honor. The N.B.A. has evolved rapidly since James entered the league in 2003, and his ability to change with it helped him break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s seemingly unbreakable career scoring record of 38,387 points on Tuesday. James has 38,390 points now.

“Nobody could imagine somebody doing it,” said Drew Gooden, who played hundreds of games alongside James in Cleveland. He added: “If you would have said or told somebody in 2003 when LeBron James got drafted when he was 18 years old that he was going to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record, they would have looked at you like you were crazy.”

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LeBron James

Facts of LeBron James

Career & net worth, relationship, lebron james is considered as one of the most versatile players in the nba. currently, the small forward / power forward plays for the los angeles lakers of the national basketball association (nba). he was selected by the cleveland cavaliers with 1st overall pick in the round one. .

The thirty-three years old has an estimated net worth of $440 million as of 2018. He is married man and has three children together with his wife. 

LeBron James Early Life & Education

LeBron James was born on December 30, 1984 , in Akron, Ohio, United States of America. Regarding his nationality, he is an American and belongs to Afro-American ethnicity.

He was born to Gloria James who raised him on her own. LeBron James attended St. Vincent-St. Mary where he played basketball for his high school team. James is an all-time leading scorer of Cavaliers. He also has been selected to 13 NBA All-Star teams, 12 All-NBA teams, and Six All-Defensive teams.

Do Follow. Clippers traded Sam Dekker to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Forbes' highest-paid athlete of last 3 decades: Floyd Mayweather tops the list ahead of Messi and Ronaldo

LeBron James Professional Career

The Cleveland Cavaliers selected LeBron James as the overall picked of the 2003 NBA draft. Upon starting his season, he scored 25 points against the Sacramento Kings, setting an NBA record for most points scored in his debut performance, at the conclusion of the season; he was named NBA Rookie of the Year.

During the summer of 2004, LeBron James made his Olympic appearance in Athens, as belongs to the U.S Olympic basketball team. He and his team players bronze medal after defeating Lithuania. Furthermore, in the year 2005, he was the youngest player who scored fifty points in one game.

In 2010, LeBron James left the Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. He spent four seasons with Miami, reaching the finals all four years and winning the back-to-back championship in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, he returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers and played for the team until 2018. 

In July 2018, He moved to Los Angeles Lakers and joined the team alongside Brandon Ingram , Josh Hart , Johnathan Williams , and Rajon Rondo .

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Read More. LA Lakers win th Record Tying 17th NBA Title; When is the Victory Parade?

LeBron James Personal Life

LeBron James is a married man. He tied the knot with his high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson. After dating many years, on Dec 31, 2011, at the party of New Year Eve’s, he proposed her for marriage. The two wedlock on September 14, 2013, in San Diego.

Their 18-years of togetherness has blessed them with three children: LeBron James Jr. (b.2004), Bryce Maximum James (b.2007), and Zhuri James (b.2014).

However, James also dated Carmen Ortega and Hencha Voigt . Besides these, he was also rumored to hook up with Amber Rose and Meagan Good .

LeBron James has reached the age of 32 now. He has a standing height of 6 8” and weighs 113 kg. 

Read More. Facts about Robert Sarver's wife, Penny Sanders

LeBron James Net Worth & Social Networking Involvements

James has an estimated net worth around $440 million, mostly earned through his basketball career. For the 2018-19 season, his salary is reported $35.6 million from his present club Los Angeles Lakers. 

Besides, he earns much from endorsement deals. He is a popular face of several companies. He endorses for Coca-Cola, Dunkin’s Brands, McDonald’s, NIKE, State Farm, Samsung, and Reebok.

Also, Lebron James is the philanthropist. He raises fund for the Boys & Girls Club of America, Children’s Defense Fund, and ONEXONE. He also establishes his charity foundation named LeBron James Family Foundation. The foundation helps children and fulfills the need and necessities of single-parent families.

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Do Follow. Pablo Andujar and NBA Finals: Golden State Warriors claim the Game 1 victory over Cleveland Cavaliers

Tina Charles

Marcus jordan, clark kellogg, kairo whitfield, jerdarrian devontae, nalyssa smith, brittney sykes, julie vanloo.

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Lebron James Facts & Worksheets

Lebron raymone james, known as king james, is an american professional basketball player for the los angeles lakers of the national basketball association (nba)., search for worksheets, download the lebron james facts & worksheets.

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Table of Contents

LeBron Raymone James , known as King James, is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

See the fact file below for more information on the Lebron James or alternatively, you can download our 25-page Lebron James worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

• Lebron James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. His mother, Gloria Marie James, and his father, Anthony McClelland, were never involved after Lebron was born.
• He soon moved in with the family of Frank Walker, a local youth football coach who introduced James to basketball when he was nine.
• At a very young age, his talent had already manifested.
• In fifth grade, James started playing organized basketball. He later played Amateur Athletic Union basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars.

HIGHSCHOOL CAREER

• James was recruited by St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to join their basketball team in 1999.
• He averaged 18 points per game as a freshman. At the Division III state title championship game, he scored 25 points.
• The following year, James was chosen for the USA Today All-USA First Team; the first selected for this award. His team also won the Division III state title for the second year.
• During his senior year, he helped his team win their third state title, averaging 31.6 points per game.
• Overall, James scored 2,657 points, 892 rebounds, and 523 assists during his high school career.
• As soon as he graduated high school, he was recognized as 2003’s first overall best pick. The Cleveland Cavaliers signed Lebron James.
• In his first regular season game, he scored 25 points against the Sacramento Kings, setting an NBA record for most points scored by a prep-to-pro player.
• During the 2003-04 season, James made history when he became the first member of the Cavalier franchise to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
• James earned his first NBA All-Star Game selection in 2004–05, contributing 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in a winning effort for the Eastern Conference.
• James continued to excel in the NBA the following season, upping his average points per game to 27.2.
• He made NBA history again in 2005, when he became the youngest player to score more than 50 points in one game.
• In 2006, James and the Cavaliers entered the playoffs, claiming their first-ever Eastern Conference championship, although they were swept by San Antonio Spurs for the NBA Season title.
• In the 2007/08 season, James was named All-Star Game MVP for the second time behind a 27-point, 8-rebound, and 9-assist performance. Cavaliers reached the playoffs but were defeated by the Boston Celtics.
• In the 2008/09 season, James finished second in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award voting and made his first NBA All-Defensive Team.
• In the 2009/10 season, he was appointed the point guard role following a series of injuries to players. This increased his statistical production, averaging 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1 block per game on 50 percent shooting en route to another MVP Award.
• Over a live telecast entitled The Decision, Lebron James announced that he would sign with the Miami Heat.
• Fellow free agents Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade also announced signing to Miami Heat prior that day.
• In 2010 – 2011, James averaged 26.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7 assists per game on 51 percent shooting. His stay with the Miami Heat gathered criticism, but they still reached the playoffs. However, the finals hit him hard, scoring only an average of 17.8 points per game.
• During 2011 – 2012, with better basketball skills, Lebron James was named the MVP for the third time, bringing the Miami Heat to championship.
• During the 2012/13 season, James averaged 29.7 points and 7.8 assists per game, propelling a 27 game winning streak for the Miami Heat. They faced San Antonio Spurs and defeated them on Game 7 with Lebron scoring 37 points. He was the MVP.
• On March 3 of the 2013/14 season, James scored a career-high and franchise-record 61 points in a game against the Charlotte Bobcats.
• With an intention to return to his former team, Lebron James signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers forming a new all-star trio with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
• In the 2014/15 season, he became the first player since the 1960s to play in five consecutive Finals. Despite their loss against the Golden State Warriors, he averaged 35.8 points.
• During the 2015/16 season, their rematch against the GSW bore fruit as James broke the 3-1 deficit, registering 41-point games in game 5 and six, eventually winning the championship with them posting a triple-double and a number of key plays. He was the unanimous Finals MVP that season.
• In Game 5 of the 2016/17 Conference Finals against the Celtics, James scored 35 points and surpassed Michael Jordan as the league’s all-time postseason scoring leader. He also became the first player to average a triple-double in the Finals.
• In the 2017/18 season, James set an NBA record with 867 straight games scoring in double-digits. He also scored a playoff career-high 51 points, but lost the game to overtime.
• On July 1, his management company, Klutch Sports, announced that he would sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. Reaction to the move was more positive than his original departure from the Cavaliers.

PERSONAL LIFE

• James is married to Savannah Brinson, his high school sweetheart.
• The couple married in a private ceremony with about 200 guests in San Diego on September 14, 2013.
• They have two sons and one daughter: Lebron James Jr., Bryce Maximus James, and Zhuri Nova James.
• His son, Lebron Jr. is pacing his way to a basketball career, following his father’s success.
• James is an active supporter of non-profit organizations, including After-School All-Stars, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Children’s Defense Fund.
• He also has his own charity foundation, the LeBron James Family Foundation, which is based in Akron.

Lebron James Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Lebron James across 25 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Lebron James worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about LeBron Raymone James, known as King James, who is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

• People of the Court
• The King’s Teams
• Shoot the Moves
• The King’s Profile
• Mr. Popularity
• King of Talents
• Keeping it Cool
• The Case of a Legend
• Quick Review

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Biography of LeBron James | Facts, Personal Life, Net Worth

Biography of LeBron James - Image source: Instagram/Kingjames

Profile Summary

• Name : Lebron James
• Date of Birth : December 30, 1984
• Citizenship : American
• Ethnicity : Black
• Place of Birth : Akron, Ohio, USA

LeBron James is considered one of the greatest players in the National Basketball Association. He is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Table of Contents

Biography of LeBron James | Early Life

LeBron Raymone James Sr. was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. His mother, Gloria Marie, was 16 when she had him; Anthony McClelland had an extensive criminal record.

Hence he wasn’t involved in James’s life. Growing up, life wasn’t rosy for James and his mother Gloria; they often struggled, moving from one speedier neighborhood in Akron to another while Gloria struggled to find a steady job.

Finally, after much consideration, Gloria realized that her son would be better off with a more stable family.

It led to James moving in with the Frank Walker family. Frank introduced James to basketball at the age of nine.

Read also: Hugo Gaston Bio | Age, Personal Life, Net worth

In fifth grade, James had begun playing organized basketball, and he later went ahead to play Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars.

His team led by himself, and his friends, Dru Joyce III, Sian Cotton, and Willie McGee, enjoyed local and national success.

The friends termed themselves the “Fab Four” and promised to attend the same high school. James, alongside his friends, attended St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, a private Catholic school.

Before starting his junior year, James was featured in an American basketball magazine known as “Slam,” where he was described as “the best high school basketball player in America.”

He also appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as the first high school basketball underclassman to do so.

He was named Ohio Mr. Basketball with an average of 8.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 29 points, and 3.3 steals per game.

In addition, James was selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team and named male basketball Gatorade National Player.

During the four years he spent in high school, James scored 2,657 points, 892 rebounds, and 523 assists.

Words of his advanced basketball skills soon spread, with James receiving several honors and recognition for his performance.

Biography of LeBron James | Career

LeBron James became the first player picked in the 2003 NBA Draft straight out of high school.

James decided to skip college and joined the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, which led to his basketball career of today.

The then-struggling franchise soon rose to its feet. In his first regular-season game, James made an NBA record for most points scored by a prep-to-pro player in his debut, 25 points against Sacramento Kings.

At the end of the season, he became the first Cavalier to receive The NBA Rookie of the year award.

In 2006, he led the East to victory in the All-Star Game with 29 points. James was named the NBA All-Stars Game’s most valuable player.

He finished second, At the end of the season, in overall NBA’s most valuable player.

The Cavaliers qualified for playoffs for the first time in 2006 since 1998, under his leadership.

In February 2007-08 seasons, James was named All-Star Game MVP for the second time with 27-points, 8-rebound, and 9-assist performance.

On July 1, 2010, he became an unrestricted free agent. He was contacted by several teams but decided to sign up with the “Heat.”

His decision was influenced by fellow free agents Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, who had earlier announced their intention to sign up with “Miami Heat.”

James thought an improved teammate, will give him better chances of winning an NBA championship.

However, he opted out of his contract with the Heat and became a free agent again on June 25, 2014.

He announced his intention to return to Cleveland. James signed up with the team officially on July 29, and In 2018, he opted out of his contract again and became an unrestricted free agent.

This time, his manager announced that he would be signed with Los Angeles Lakers.

At 35 years, James became the second-oldest player in league history to win the award and the only player in NBA history to win prizes with three different franchises. Also, he is the third player in NBA history to win at least one championship while in another team.

Read also: DJ Khaled Bio | Early Life, Age, Nationality

What is LeBron James’s Net Worth?

In 2003, LeBron James signed an endorsement deal with Nike for $90 million.

This deal could net him over $1 billion over his lifetime. Top media outlets estimate his current net worth to be $88.7 million, making him one of the highest-earning players.

Biography of LeBron James | Personal Life

LeBron James got married in 2013 to his high school sweetheart Savannah Brinson. On September 14, 2013, they tied the knot in a private ceremony in San Diego, with about 200 guests.

The couple share three kids together, two sons, “LeBron Jr.,” “Bryce Maximus James,” and a daughter, “Zhuri James.”

Interesting Facts

LeBron James, outside NBA, created a foundation known as the ” LeBron James Family Foundation. It was established in 2004, in other to help singles parent in need.

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Bronny James can’t call LeBron ‘Dad’ while with the Lakers. But ‘GOAT’ works just fine

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Bronny James has many options when it comes to addressing his father and new Lakers teammate, LeBron James .

He can use a shortened version of their shared first name.

Or, if the Lakers rookie prefers, he could refer to his old man by his jersey number .

Another possible choice is a term reserved for the best of the best in any given sport.

There seems to be only one thing Bronny James isn’t allowed to call his father while they’re at work:

Is Bronny James a pro? Jaylen Brown doesn’t think so: He’s with Lakers ‘because of his name’

Celtics star Jaylen Brown appears to say that Bronny James will play for the Lakers ‘because of his name.’ The NBA Finals MVP later tweeted his support for LeBron’s son.

July 16, 2024

During a recent taping of his talk show “ The Shop ” in Paris, LeBron James was asked if his kid would be allowed to address him as such in a locker room, practice facility or arena. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer quickly shut down that notion.

“No he can’t. We already laid that down,” James said. “ Cannot call me ‘Dad’ in the workplace, all right? Once we leave out of the practice facility and the gates close, I can be ‘Dad’ again. In the car we ride together, at home, I can be ‘Dad.’ No, [at work] he got to call me, like, ‘2-3’ or ‘Bron.’”

“Or, you know, ‘ GOAT ’ if he want to,” James added, much to the amusement of the crowd in attendance. “That’s up to him.”

Plaschke: LeBron James’ golden Olympics wasted on tarnished Lakers

The Lakers should do everything they can to support LeBron James, who showed during the Paris Olympics he can still orchestrate a championship run.

Aug. 26, 2024

Bronny James played for one season at USC and was selected by the Lakers with the 55th pick in the NBA draft in June. He signed a guaranteed contract on July 3, agreeing to a four-year deal that could be worth nearly $8 million. The same day, LeBron James re-signed with the Lakers on a two-year deal that included a no-trade clause and a player option for the second season.

Over the years, James had publicly mentioned the possibility of playing in the NBA with his oldest son. Now that the two of them are set to become the league’s first father-son duo to appear on the same roster, James acknowledges at least one aspect of the situation might seem a little strange to LeBron Jr.

“It’s easy for me ’cause I’ve been calling him Bronny for so long,” James said. “It’s not like I’ve been calling, ‘Hey, son! Hey, son!’ So it’s easy for me. It’s gonna be an adjustment for him.

“But,” James added emphatically, “we cannot be running down the court, and he be like ‘Dad, push the ball up!’ Dad, I’m open! Dad, come on!’ No, you cannot do that.”

Granderson: Bronny James is seeing the downsides of being a nepo baby

The harsh glare of public scrutiny won’t go away no matter how well he performs as a Laker alongside his dad, LeBron. So it goes.

July 9, 2024

More to Read

LeBron James says pay cut was about making sure his relationship with Lakers works

July 7, 2024

Bronny James sits out Lakers’ game Sunday because of a swollen knee

‘Growing comfortable’: Bronny James is hit and miss in Lakers debut

July 6, 2024

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Chuck Schilken is a sports reporter on the Fast Break team. He spent more than 18 years with the Los Angeles Times’ Sports Department in a variety of roles. Before joining The Times, he worked for more than a decade as a sports reporter and editor at newspapers in Virginia and Maryland.

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Labor Day travelers see lower gas prices

Phil ellsworth.

• Aug 29, 2024

Road-trippers in Wyoming can expect to see lower gas prices this year than they did last year.

According to gasbuddy.com , the lowest prices for regular gas in Wyoming are $2.89 per gallon at the Exxon stations in Casper at East Yellowstone and Beverly, and 400 Valley Drive in Paradise Valley (cash prices, as of noon Wednesday).

The low prices for Casper are matched by Tumbleweed Express in Laramie and Phin Deli in Buford. 

Wyoming's average price is $3.29 per gallon, while the national average is $3.44, according to gasbuddy.com . Last year's average for the state was $3.95. The national average over Labor Day weekend in 2023 was $3.81.

The gasbuddy.com website states, "In recent weeks, gas prices have remained steady, hovering around $3.50. Despite the popularity of summer road trips, overall gas demand is down as daily driving habits have changed post-pandemic, preventing pump prices from spiking."

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"Hurricanes hitting the Gulf and affecting regional refineries could cause gas prices to go up as the peak of the season approaches in September," the website notes.

In the lower 48 states, drivers in California face the highest average gas price at $4.622 per gallon and Mississippi drivers get the best deals with an average price of $2.892 per gallon, according to AAA.

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