Background
LeBron James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, United States, 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.
2003
LeBron James in action
2004
Athens, Greece
LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony of the United States receive the bronze medals for men's basketball during ceremonies on August 28, 2004, during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Indoor Hall of the Olympic Sports Complex in Athens, Greece.
2008
James and DeShawn Stevenson in April 2008. The two had a short feud after Stevenson called James "overrated."
2009
James with the Cavaliers in November 2009. He finished his first stint with the Cavs averaging 27.8 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
2011
James goes in for a slam dunk as a member of the Miami Heat in March 2011.
2012
Miami, Florida, United States
LeBron James poses after having accepted the NBA MVP trophy on May 12, 2012 in Miami.
2012
LeBron James, holding his Olympic Games Gold Medal
2016
7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland, CA 94621, United States
LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers blocks a shot by Andre Iguodala of the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena (now Oakland Arena) on June 19, 2016, in Oakland, California.
2016
LeBron James with his trophies as the NBA Champion
2017
LeBron James, receiving the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.
2017
LeBron James in October 2017
2018
2275 East Mariposa Avenue 90245, El Segundo, California, United States
LeBron James poses for a portrait during media day at UCLA Health Training Center on September 24, 2018, in El Segundo, California.
2018
1 North Center Court Street, Portland, Oregon, United States
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter of their game at Moda Center on October 18, 2018, in Portland, Oregon.
2018
1 AT&T Center Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78219, United States
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a turnover against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center on October 27, 2018, in San Antonio, Texas.
2019
1 State Farm Dr, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks against the Atlanta Hawks in the first half at State Farm Arena on December 15, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia.
2020
1111 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California, United States
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates his basket and LA Clippers foul during a 112-103 Lakers win at Staples Center on March 8, 2020, in Los Angeles, California.
LeBron James on the cover of Sports Illustrated
LeBron James
LeBron James
Young LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron James, holding his NBA Championship Trophy.
LeBron James
LeBron James in youth
LeBron James
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LeBron James with his trophies
(From the ultimate team - basketball superstar LeBron Jame...)
From the ultimate team - basketball superstar LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Friday Night Lights and Three Nights in August - this work represents a poignant, thrilling tale of the power of teamwork to transform young lives, including James's own.
https://www.amazon.com/Shooting-Stars-LeBron-James/dp/B004KAB6NQ
2009
LeBron James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, United States, 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.
In his early years, James played basketball for St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, where he was heavily touted by the national media as a future NBA superstar.
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, he was chosen for the USA Today All-USA First Team. James 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 team also earned the top national ranking that year. Overall, James scored 2,657 points, 892 rebounds and 523 assists during his four years at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. He would soon emerge as one of the National Basketball Association's leading players.
With his impressive record, it was no surprise that James was the first player picked in the 2003 NBA draft. 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. Around this time, James also signed several endorsement deals, including one with Nike for $90 million.
During the 2003-04 season, James made history, becoming the first member of the Cavalier franchise to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He also became the youngest NBA player (at only 20 years old) to receive this honor. Additionally, James, averaging 20 points per game at this time, became one of only three rookies to accomplish this feat, putting him in the same company as Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson.
During the summer of 2004, James made his Olympic debut at the Summer Games in Athens, Greece, as part of the U.S. Olympic basketball team. He and his teammates won bronze medals after defeating Lithuania. Argentina took home the gold after beating Italy in the finals.
Outside of his basketball career, James went through some changes in his personal life around this time. He became a father for the first time in October 2004, when he and girlfriend Savannah Brinson welcomed a son, LeBron Jr.
Early in the 2008-09 season, sports journalists and fans began talking about James's future in the sport. He had the option to become a free agent in 2010, and there was much discussion as to where James may 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.
Shortly after becoming a free agent, however, 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's announcement, Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert wrote an open letter declaring James's 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 also saw major success for James and the Miami Heat, which ended the season with an NBA Championship win, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder (121-106) in Game 5 of the finals, on June 21, 2012. It was James's first NBA championship win. In the final game, James scored 26 points and had 11 rebounds and 13 assists.
James competed at his third Olympic Games in 2012, at the Summer Olympics in London, along with teammates Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant, as well as several other top players. The U.S. basketball team took the gold medal - James's second consecutive Olympic gold.
During the 2012-13 season, James made NBA history yet again: on January 16, 2013, at the age of 28, he became the youngest NBA player to score 20,000 points, succeeding Kobe Bryant of the Lakers, who became the youngest player to reach 20,000 points at the age of 29, for the distinction. James made a jump shot in the final seconds of the game, bringing his scoring total 20,001 and leading the Heat to a 92-75 victory over the Warriors. James is only the 38th player in NBA history to achieve this feat.
On June 25, 2014, James opted out of his contract with the Heat and officially became an unrestricted free agent on July 1. On July 11, he revealed via a first-person essay in Sports Illustrated that he intended to return to the Cavaliers. In contrast to The Decision, his announcement to return to Cleveland was well received. On July 12, he officially signed with the team, who had compiled a league-worst 97-215 record in the four seasons following his departure. A month after James's signing, the Cavaliers acquired Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves, forming a new star trio along with Kyrie Irving.
In January of the 2014-15 season, James missed two weeks due to left knee and lower back strains, the longest stretch of missed games in his career. In total, he played a career-low 69 games and his final averages were 25.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. In the second round of the playoffs, he hit a baseline jumper at the buzzer to give Cleveland a 2-2 series tie with the Bulls. In the Conference Finals, the Cavaliers defeated the Hawks to advance to the Finals, making James the first player since the 1960s to play in five consecutive Finals. For most of the Finals against the Golden State Warriors, Irving and Love were sidelined due to injury, giving James more offensive responsibilities. Behind his leadership, the Cavaliers opened the series with a 2-1 lead before being eliminated in six games. Despite the loss, he received serious consideration for the Finals MVP Award, averaging 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game for the championship round.
During the 2015-16 season, James was criticized for his role in several off-court controversies, including the midseason firing of Cavaliers' coach David Blatt. Despite these distractions, Cleveland finished the year with 57 wins and the best record in the East. James's final averages were 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game on 52 percent shooting. In the playoffs, the Cavaliers advanced comfortably to the Finals, losing only two games en route to a rematch with the Warriors, who were coming off a record-setting 73 win season. To begin the series, Cleveland fell behind 3-1, including two blowout losses. James responded by registering back-to-back 41 point games in Games 5 and 6, leading the Cavaliers to two consecutive wins to stave off elimination. In Game 7, he posted a triple-double and made a number of key plays, including a memorable chase-down block on Andre Iguodala in the final two minutes, as Cleveland emerged victorious, winning the city's first professional sports title in 52 years and becoming the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 series deficit in the Finals. James became just the third player to record a triple-double in an NBA Finals Game 7, and behind series averages of 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 2.6 steals per game, he also became the first player in league history to lead both teams in all five statistical categories for a playoff round, culminating in a unanimous Finals MVP selection.
The 2016-17 season was marred by injuries and unexpected losses for the Cavaliers; James later described it as one of the "strangest" years of his career. Following a January defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans, he publicly criticized Cleveland's front office for constructing a team that he felt was too "top heavy," for which he received counter-criticism. The Cavaliers finished the season as the East's second seed, with James averaging 26.4 points and career highs in rebounds (8.6), assists (8.7), and turnovers (4.1) per game. In Game 3 of the first round of the postseason, he registered 41 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists against the Pacers, leading Cleveland to a comeback victory after trailing by 25 points at halftime, representing the largest halftime deficit overcome in NBA playoff history. In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics, James scored 35 points and surpassed Michael Jordan as the league's all-time postseason scoring leader. The Cavaliers won the game and the series, advancing to their third consecutive Finals against the Warriors. Behind averages of 33.6 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists per game, James became the first player to average a triple-double in the Finals, but Cleveland was defeated in five games.
On June 29, 2018, James announced that he used his player option to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Cavaliers to become an unrestricted free agent. On July 1, his management agency announced that James intended to sign a four-year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. When he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, he continued to play at a high level, averaging 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game, but he missed significant playing time because of an injury (a strained groin) for the first time in his career. The Lakers struggled in his absence and ultimately finished the 2018-19 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, and the Lakers ultimately defeated the Miami Heat to claim the franchise's 17th NBA title. James's dominating performance - he averaged 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game - earned him his fourth finals MVP award.
It's worth noting, that James also published a memoir, Shooting Stars (2009; cowritten with Buzz Bissinger), that chronicles his years as a high-school standout.
(From the ultimate team - basketball superstar LeBron Jame...)
2009Although raised as a Catholic, LeBron has some strange and ridiculous opinions about religion. He once referred to God when he lost an important game, commenting, "the Greater Man upstairs knows when it's my time. Right now, isn't my time," a quote which became quite controversial.
Despite the religion of his upbringing, there is at least one thing about James that some devout Catholics might take issue with. He's spoken about Karma, a Hindu/Buddhist principle, and mixed it with monotheism.
In June 2008, James donated $20,000 to a committee to elect Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. Later that year, James gathered almost 20,000 people at the Quicken Loans Arena for a viewing of Obama's 30-minute American Stories, American Solutions television advertisement. The advertisement was shown on a large screen above the stage, where Jay-Z later held a free concert. In November 2016, James endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential election.
In the aftermath of the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, James questioned then President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again slogan. He said: "It's sad what's going on in Charlottesville. Is this the direction our country is heading? Make America Great Again huh?". He then said: "Our youth deserve better!!". James also called Trump a "bum" after the former president rescinded a White House invitation to Steph Curry. On the other end of the spectrum, on February 16, 2018, Fox News journalist Laura Ingraham told James to "shut up and dribble" as a response to his political agendas.
Two years after a conservative commentator told LeBron James to "shut up and dribble," the NBA star has become an increasingly influential political force as issues of racial justice and voter suppression began moving to the forefront in the Presidential election of November 2020. James helped form a group that spent millions of dollars to battle voter disenfranchisement in predominantly African-American communities ahead of the November 3 election between Republican Trump and Democrat Joe Biden. He also has helped push the National Basketball Association to recognize racial justice issues and the Black Lives Matter movement, including the decision to postpone playoff games in late August 2020 after a player boycott to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake, an African-American man, by police in Wisconsin.
Throughout his career, James has taken stances on controversial issues. On several occasions, he mentioned a feeling of obligation to effect change using his status. Those include the War in Darfur, the Trayvon Martin case, the now-former NBA owner Donald Sterling's racist comments in 2014, the Michael Brown verdict, and the death of Eric Garner. Following a racist incident at his Los Angeles home in 2017, James stated, "being black in America is tough. We got a long way to go for us as a society and for us as African Americans until we feel equal in America."
James is an active supporter of non-profit organizations, including After-School All-Stars, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Children's Defense Fund, and ONEXONE. He also has his own charity foundation, the LeBron James Family Foundation, which is based in Akron.
Quotations:
"I don't know how tall I am or how much I weigh. Because I don't want anybody to know my identity. I'm like a superhero. Call me Basketball Man."
"I like criticism. It makes you strong."
"I'm going to use all my tools, my God-given ability, and make the best life I can with it."
"Volleyball, I could be pretty good. After a few practices I could be that striker, or whatever they call it."
"As a professional athlete a lot is going to be said about you - but I just try to move forward and try to achieve my goals."
On February 13, 2015, James was elected the first vice president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).
Physical Characteristics:
LeBron James is 2.03 m. tall (6 ft 9 in) and weighs 113 kg (250 lb).
He writes and eats with his left hand but shoots with his right hand.
Quotes from others about the person
"It's not just that [LeBron James] is really good in his 15th year. He's the best player." - Greg Anthony, an NBA TV and Turner Sports analyst
"I would never do 'Dancing With The Stars,' because it's just not fair. I am too good of a dancer. It would be like LeBron James playing little league basketball." - Terry Crews, an actor, comedian, and activist
"I may go so far as saying LeBron James may be the greatest player to ever play the game. Because he is so potent offensively that not only can he score at will, but he keeps everybody involved." - Scottie Pippen, a former professional basketball player
"I have so much respect for athletes like LeBron James. I get motivation from them because I know how many hours they put into it. It takes a lot of hard work and drive."- Ciara, a singer, songwriter, dancer, and model
"LeBron James can get a shot off under any and all circumstances and he makes them." - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a former professional basketball player
James married Savannah Brinson, his high school sweetheart, on September 14, 2013. Together they have three children, LeBron Raymone "Bronny" James Jr., Bryce Maximus James and Zhuri James.