a short biography about lebron james

LeBron James

LeBron James became an immediate star after skipping college to join the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. He led the Miami Heat to NBA titles in 2012 and 2013 and won another championship with Cleveland in 2016, before joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018.

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Who Is LeBron James?

LeBron James is an American basketball player with the Los Angeles Lakers. James first garnered national attention as the top high school basketball player in the country. 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 Cleveland and helped the franchise claim its first championship in 2016.

Early Life and High School Basketball Career

James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. At an early age, James showed a natural talent for basketball. He was recruited by St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to join their basketball team in 1999. Overall, James scored 2,657 points, 892 rebounds and 523 assists during his four years there.

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. James 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 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.

Cleveland Cavaliers

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. He also became the youngest player — at only 20 years old — to receive this honor.

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.

In 2006, James helped his team defeat the Washington Wizards in the first round of playoff action. From there, the Cavaliers 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 for his team. While his team wasn't at the top of the rankings, James himself continued to receive special recognition for his abilities.

In 2006, 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.

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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 Bryant of the Lakers — who accomplished this feat when he was 29 — and becoming only the 38th 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 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 of 2014, after opting out of his contract with the Heat and considering other teams, James announced that he would be 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, claiming 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 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's 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.

Los Angeles Lakers

On July 1, 2018, James announced that he was moving on to the next chapter of his career by signing a 4-year, $153.3 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, a storied franchise that counted 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.

Championships and Rings

James participated in eight straight NBA championships from the 2010-11 season to the 2018-19 season. During that time, he captured three championship rings: twice with the Heat (2011-12 and 2012-13) and once with the Cavaliers (2015-16).

All-Star Games and MVPs

James was selected for the NBA All-Star Game for the first time in 2005 and would go on to earn a spot in the annual showcase in each of the next 15 seasons.

In January 2018, the NBA announced that 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 the Most Valuable Player in the NBA All-Star Game, a feat he would repeat in 2008 and 2018. James has also been named NBA MVP four times, in seasons 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Stats and Points

In January 2018, at age 33, James surpassed 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 Abdul-Jabbar's all-time record of 38,387 points.

In 2019, James surpassed Jordan's career tally of 32,292 points to move into fourth place on the all-time list. In January 2020, he eclipsed Bryant's total of 33,643 points to slide into third place, one night before his predecessor's shocking death in a helicopter accident.

After 16 NBA seasons, James' stats included regular season per-game averages of:

• 27.2 points
• 38.6 minutes
• 0.736 free-throw percentage
• 0.343 3-point field-goal percentage
• 0.504 field-goal percentage
• 1.2 offensive rebounds
• 6.2 defensive rebounds
• 7.2 assists
• 3.5 turnovers

Olympic Games

James competed on the U.S. Olympic basketball team during three Summer Olympic Games, in 2004, 2008 and 2012. James 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, China, to play with the likes of Bryant, Jason Kidd and Dwyane Wade on the U.S. Olympic basketball team. This time around the U.S. team 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 Durant, Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and several other top players. The U.S. basketball team took the gold medal — James' second consecutive Olympic gold.

Contract With Nike

In 2003, James signed several endorsement deals, including a deal with Nike for $90 million that could net him over $1 billion over his lifetime.

Other endorsements include Intel, Verizon, Coca-Cola, Beats by Dre and Kia Motors.

Salary and Earnings

In the 2016-17 season, James collected a $31 million salary, making him the third player to earn that much after Jordan and Bryant. The NBA superstar went on to sign a four-year, $153.3 million contract with the Lakers in July 2018. He’s also a co-owner of the production company SpringHill Entertainment and has invested in Blaze Pizza.

In February 2019, Forbes magazine's estimated James’ yearly earnings at $88.7 million, making him the NBA's highest-earning player for the fifth year in a row.

Wife and Kids

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.

James and Brinson have two sons and one daughter together. In October 2004, James welcomed his first son LeBron Jr. On June 14, 2007, Brinson gave birth to their second son, Bryce Maximus James. Their third child, daughter Zhuri James, was born on October 22, 2014.

LeBron James Family Foundation

Outside of the NBA, James has worked to help others. He established the LeBron James Family Foundation in 2004, along 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.

Outspoken Posts on Social Media

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 U.S. 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, although 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.

'Space Jam 2'

James starred in Space Jam 2 , the 2021 sequel to the 1996 hit starring 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."

QUICK FACTS

• Name: James
• Birth Year: 1984
• Birth date: December 30, 1984
• Birth State: Ohio
• Birth City: Akron
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: LeBron James became an immediate star after skipping college to join the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. He led the Miami Heat to NBA titles in 2012 and 2013 and won another championship with Cleveland in 2016, before joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018.
• Astrological Sign: Capricorn
• St. Vincent-St. Mary High School
• Interesting Facts
• During the 2003-04 season, LeBron James became the first member of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the youngest NBA player in history to recieve the Rookie of the Year Award.
• LeBron James was one of only three rookies to average 20 points per game during the 2003-04 season. The other rookies to accomplish the feat were Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson.

We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

• 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.
• 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 stays humble just by being LeBron.
• Why would you think he's coming back? People move from Cleveland to Miami every [expletive] day. They don't move from Miami to Cleveland.

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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

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LeBron JAMES

When all is said and done, LeBron James will be regarded as one of the greatest NBA and basketball players of all time. The debate on whether he is the best has raged on among basketball fans, with arguments that could sway in either direction.

Born in Akron, Ohio, LeBron Raymone James attended St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in his hometown. There, he led his team to multiple state championships and earned the title of National Player of the Year during his senior year.

LeBron James' NBA Debut: A Phenom Takes Center Stage in Cleveland

Following his illustrious high school career, James was selected as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wearing the iconic 23 jersey, he soon claimed the Rookie of the Year award after his first full season and represented the USA, winning a bronze medal during his debut Olympic Games in Athens in the summer of 2004.

The 6-ft-9-inch (2.06m) athlete rapidly established himself as one of the premier players in the NBA after his initial Olympic appearance. During an impressive seven-season stint with the Cavaliers (with an average of 78 games/season), the small forward amassed numerous individual accolades, including an NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, although the coveted championship eluded him.

LeBron James: A 20-Year NBA Legacy and Ascension to All-Time Leading Scorer

He would later achieve that elusive feat after his highly publicised decision to join the Miami Heat in 2010, an announcement made through the infamous "The Decision" TV show. James went on to win two NBA championships and earned two more NBA MVP awards during his four-year tenure with the Heat.

LeBron's list of achievements continued internationally as he led the USA team to a gold medal in the Beijing 2008 Olympics before repeating the feat at the London 2012 Games.

In 2016, he made a triumphant return to the Cavaliers , where he played a pivotal role in securing the franchise's first championship in its history. James then signed with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent in 2018 and won the championship in his third season, marking his fourth NBA title.

The father of three achieved another milestone in February 2023 when he surpassed the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387 total points to become the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. He now has 38,652 regular season points after the 2022/23 season, his 20th in the NBA .

LeBron James is renowned not only for his basketball prowess but also for his philanthropic efforts and activism. He founded the LeBron James Family Foundation, dedicated to various charitable initiatives, particularly in the realms of education and youth programs.

As his illustrious career approaches its twilight years, LeBron, who turned 39 in December 2023, may participate in the 2024 Paris Games, potentially marking his "last dance" in the Olympic world and his first appearance since 2012.

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.

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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

• 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

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LeBron James Bio and Facts

Table of Contents

Lebron james, basketball career, titles and awards, personal life.

LeBron James is considered one of the most well-known sports figures in the history of professional sports and is also recognized as one of the greatest basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA).  James started his athletic career and gathered quite a lot of attention when he was recognized as the top high school basketball player in the country. During his four years at St. Vincent-St. Mary Catholic High School, James scored 2,657 points, 892 rebounds, and 523 assists.

James finished his high school education and became one of the first players picked in the 2003 NBA Draft out of high school. James joined the Cleveland Cavaliers and completely transformed the team's culture and impact in the NBA Eastern Conference. James played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, and most recently, the Los Angeles Lakers. James has been married to Savannah Brinson since 2013, and together they parent three children.

• Born : December 30, 1984
• Education : St. Vincent-St. Mary Catholic High School
• Net Worth : $1 billion
• Occupation : NBA Player
• Height : 6’9” (2.06 m)
• Weight : 250 lb (113kg)
• Position : Small forward , Power forward
• Years Active : 2003-present
• Nicknames : King James, Bron
• Teams : Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers

Social Media

• Business Website

LeBron James’s net worth is $1 billion.  Over the course of his NBA career, he has collected over $400 million in combined salary from the Cavaliers, Heat, and Lakers. In addition, he has earned over $900 million from endorsement deals and other business ventures. Major endorsement deals include those with Nike, Walmart, Pepsico, and AT&T.

James owns partial stakes in Tonal, Lyft, and Blaze Pizza, and he also co-owns a film and TV production company, SpringHill, with his business partner, Maverick Carter. In 2016, James signed a lifetime endorsement contract with Nike, which pays him over $30 million per year. It is estimated that he will earn a total of $1 billion from this deal.

LeBron James's career has been incredibly impressive from the very beginning. He was recruited by his high school, helped the team win a Division 3 state title, and he was even chosen in his sophomore year to join the USA Today All-USA First Team. James contemplated dropping out of high school early because of how well he was performing but ultimately decided to finish. James was picked in the NBA Draft out of high school and signed to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 as a forward.

James was also the first member of the Cavaliers to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. James played for Cleveland for seven years before joining the Miami Heat for the 2010-2011 season. By 2014, James had won two NBA Championships and rejoined the Cavaliers. He stayed with them until 2018, when he signed a four-year $153.3 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. During his career, James has won four NBA Championships (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020).

• Four-time NBA champion
• Four-time NBA Finals MVP
• Four-time NBA MVP
• 20-time NBA All-Star
• 13-time All-NBA First Team
• 2004 NBA Rookie of the Year

LeBron James has participated in nine NBA Finals from the 2010-11 season to the 2021-22 season. Out of those eight Finals appearances, James has earned four championship rings, two while he was a member of the Miami Heat (2011-12, 2012-13), one with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2015-16 season, and his most recent with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019-20.

During his career, James has received dozens of awards.  In 2004, James was the youngest player to earn the Rookie of the Year Award at 20 years old. James has also earned the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, NBA All-Defensive Team Award, NBA All-Rookie Team Award, Best Male Athlete ESPY Award, All-NBA Team Award, NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP Award, and many others. James' athletic career is extremely inspiring to those looking for an athletic role model.

James holds several NBA records, including that of the all-time leading scorer. The title was previously held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but James surpassed his mark on February 7, 2023, when he scored his 38,388th point against Oklahoma City. Other records include having the most All-NBA Team selections of all-time (18), the most All-Star selections of any player (20), and being the only NBA player to achieve more than 10,000 points, rebounds, and assists.

LeBron James’s personal life is rather simple and relaxed compared to his intense and tenuous athletic career. On January 1, 2012, James proposed to his high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson, and the two married on September 14, 2013. Brinson and James have two sons and one daughter together. Bronny James was born in October of 2004. On June 14, 2007, Brinson and James had their second son, Bryce Maximus James. Finally, on October 22, 2014, the couple had their third child, Zhuri James.

Both of James's sons have shown interest in basketball, and James has said that they have plans of eventually going professional if they are given the opportunity. James also has commented on how he enjoys training the boys and spending time with them doing something they all love: playing basketball.

• James was named to the first-team All-State football team his sophomore year of high school and played as a wide receiver.
• James’s most popular nickname is King James.
• James was the youngest player drafted by the NBA as the number-one pick in 2003 at the age of 18.
• James signed a seven-year contract with Nike during his very first season with the NBA (2003-2010).
• James stands at a staggering 6 ft, 9 in.
• James has won an NBA Championship with every team he has played for, including the Cavaliers, Heat, and Lakers.
• James is also a big fan of the New York Yankees and is a major supporter of the team.
• James has a foundation, the Lebron James Family Foundation, which helps children of single-parent families.
• James is co-owner of the SpringHill entertainment production company.
• James signed a lifetime deal with Nike in 2016 worth more than $30 million dollars a year.
• James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

Why is LeBron James worth so much?

Lebron James has a net worth of over $1 billion dollars and a large number of brand deals on top of that. In 2003, James signed a deal with Nike, which earned him $90 million dollars at just the starting point of his professional career. Other endorsements that have helped bring James much fortune include Intel, Verizon, Coca-Cola, Beats by Dre, and Kia Motors. In 2016, he also signed a lifetime endorsement deal with Nike to pay him many millions every year going forward. James at last became a billionaire in 2022 largely thanks to his $153.3 million dollar contract with the LA Lakers.

What is the LeBron James celebration called?

LeBron James’ celebration is called “The Silencer.” James will push his hands down three times, palms facing the floor, and then double-tap his right hand over his chest. James lets out a large scream that silences what was a crazy crowd moments before. This intense moment is known as one of the best celebrations in the NBA.

Why is LeBron James nicknamed “The King”

Lebron James is often called the King of the NBA because he is one of the greatest basketball players of all time.  In high school, James earned his nickname from friends and fans watching him on the bleachers, and the nickname stuck and has followed James throughout his legendary career in the NBA. James has also made his account handles @KingJames, which confirms his widely known and favorite nickname.

What does LeBron James think are his weaknesses?

James has stated that his biggest weakness is wanting to have too much control over situations where he is not “The King.” Although James wants to control every aspect of every game he participates in, he realizes that if he takes a step back, the game flows much better when he releases some control.

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LeBron James Biography: Life, Career & Records

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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 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 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.

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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.”

N.B.A. Commissioner Adam Silver, in an email, called the record “one of the most hallowed” in all sports. Of James, he said, “His extraordinary athleticism, power and speed leave you in awe.”

Over the past 20 years, James’s ascent to the top of the scoring list has impressed Hall of Fame players as he made a definitive case to join their ranks and perhaps be considered the best among them. His shots have felled the toughest competitors, yet made them fans as he blocked them from fulfilling their sports dreams. His teammates have amassed stories of the joys of playing with him — and the pain of being on the other side.

At 38, James is one of the N.B.A.’s oldest players. He’s also still one of its best.

“It’s not like he’s holding on for dear life just to get the award,” Curry said. “He’s still playing at a high level. So it’s pretty damn impressive.”

‘Scored baskets in every way possible’

Abdul-Jabbar, 75, played in the N.B.A. from 1969 to 1989 after starring for three seasons at U.C.L.A. When he broke Wilt Chamberlain ’s career scoring record in April 1984 , he did so with his patented, and nearly unstoppable, shot: the sky hook .

James hasn’t cultivated that kind of signature.

“Now, is there a shot that you know that he got that would make you say LeBron James? No,” said George Gervin, 70, a Hall of Fame player who won four scoring titles and is known for his finger roll .

Instead, Gervin said, James’s “greatest attribute will be his ability to be consistent.”

James has methodically developed his game all over the floor, borrowing from the greats. During any given game, he might shoot the fadeaway from the post perfected by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, go for a logo 3-pointer like Curry or do the “Dream Shake” he was taught by its namesake, Hakeem Olajuwon .

“LeBron has scored baskets in every way possible,” Philadelphia 76ers Coach Doc Rivers said.

Rivers, who has also coached the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers, said he recently ran into James in Los Angeles and joked, “I think you scored at least 10,000 of those points against one of my teams.”

He said James responded, “‘Those Celtics points were the hardest damn points that I’ve ever had to score.’”

Defenders became “more fearful” as James expanded his game, Rivers said.

“When LeBron first started, you wanted to take away his right hand. His drive. His attacks to the basket,” Rivers said. “You actually would sag off and give him shots. Then he started going both ways with the ball, which made it more difficult to guard. Then he got the in-between game.”

The Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo, one of the league’s best defenders, said James was “like a computer.”

“He’s calculating everything that is going on at a rapid speed,” Adebayo said. “So it would be like you typing normally and you got somebody on, like, Excel saying it to the computer and the computer is just reading what they’re saying and just typing it.”

James is known for his savvy, but also for his strength.

“His area of attack is at the top of the floor,” said Mike Brown, who coached James for five seasons in Cleveland. “Everybody knows it, but nobody can stop it.”

Diana Taurasi , who holds the W.N.B.A.’s career scoring record , said James was “probably still the most dangerous man in transition.”

Gooden said he “took it for granted” that he had played with James. That is, until 2008, when Cleveland traded Gooden to Chicago and he tried to make the Cavaliers regret it the first time he faced off with James.

“I jumped right in LeBron’s way, and it was like a freight train hit me,” Gooden said. “He came across with two elbows. All his elbows went across my face. Basically, he got an and-one. And I came out of the smoke with a bloody, busted lip. And I was like, ‘Wow, that’s what everybody’s been having to deal with.’”

More passer than scorer?

James’s points are often an afterthought to his skill as a passer.

“He never set out to be a scoring leader,” Golden State forward Draymond Green said. “He’s never been viewed as a scorer. I think that’s more impressive than anything .”

James passed Magic Johnson for sixth on the career assists list in December and passed Mark Jackson and Steve Nash to become fourth in January.

Jeff Green, who was James’s Cavaliers teammate in 2017-18, said James’s passing “allowed me to get a lot of buckets.”

James has led the league in assists only once, in the 2019-20 season. But Erik Spoelstra, who coached James to two championships with the Heat, said he believed that James could have done it any time he wanted to.

“ The skill that I thought was most fascinating with him, with his size and skill and his vision, is his passing,” Spoelstra said.

Some think the most momentous play of James’s career wasn’t even on offense.

Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, said: “In terms of memorable, it’s not points he has scored. It’s his chase-down block of Andre in the finals.”

Late in Game 7 of the 2016 N.B.A. finals against Golden State, James, then with Cleveland, flashed the length of the court to block a crucial shot by Andre Iguodala, helping the Cavaliers complete an improbable championship run.

“I never got mad about that,” Iguodala said. “Like, people think it hurts me when they say, ‘You got blocked by LeBron.’ That was an amazing play. Even in real time, I was like, ‘Geez, bro, that was incredible.’ ”

‘A grown man playing among kids’

During James’s rookie year, he averaged fewer than three 3-point attempts a game. Last season, he averaged eight a game — a reflection of the N.B.A.’s shift to emphasize 3-point shooting and his willingness to go with the tide. It’s also a reflection of graceful aging to preserve his legs.

Abdul-Jabbar rarely missed games because of injury and James largely had not either, until recent seasons with the Lakers. James is known for a diligent diet and exercise regimen that has allowed him to stretch his career and remain dominant past the typical N.B.A. retirement age.

“The reward for doing that is he’s a grown man playing among kids now,” Gooden said.

As James’s game has drifted toward the perimeter, his drives to the basket — and the foul shots they often draw — have become less common. Instead, he’s become a better shooter, with more of his points coming from 3-point range.

Still, Silver said he had always been struck by “the sheer force of his dunks.”

In 2012, when James was with the Heat, he jumped over the 5-foot-11 John Lucas III for a dunk against Chicago.

“It happened so fast that I didn’t know he actually jumped over me until it was on the Jumbotron and we called the timeout and the crowd was going crazy,” said Lucas, who was an assistant coach on James’s Lakers team last season. “My phone was blowing up at halftime.”

Lucas even has a picture of himself getting dunked on hanging in his house.

“That picture is going to be in the Hall of Fame,” Lucas said. “I have a great sense of humor.”

Malik Monk, who played with James on the Lakers last season, said he often teased Lucas about the dunk. “He said he wanted to punch him,” Monk said.

James has spent a career making once-in-a-lifetime athleticism look casual, which is why his career-best 61-point performance against the Charlotte Hornets in 2014 seemingly blends in with last season’s 56-point explosion against Curry and Golden State, not to mention his scoring at least 40 points against every N.B.A. team.

But James’s greatness is far from casual. He has been a symbol of consistent dominance for decades — just as Abdul-Jabbar was. When James entered the league straight from high school, he did so with unprecedented hype. He had already been on the cover of Sports Illustrated . His high school games were on national television .

As Rivers put it: “LeBron is one of the few people in the history of sports to overachieve from a position that was impossible to overachieve.”

Decades later, perhaps the most remarkable fact about James’s career is that his scoring at age 38 is at least as good as it’s ever been — meaning the story of his offensive prowess has not been fully written.

Sopan Deb is a basketball writer and a contributor to the Culture section. Before joining The Times, he covered Donald J. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign for CBS News. More about Sopan Deb

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Short Bio » Basketball Player » LeBron James

LeBron James

LeBron James is an American basketball player. He is currently signed to NBA club Cleveland Cavaliers . He previously played and won the NBA with Miami Heat. He is one of the highly rated athlete in the world.

LeBron Raymone James was born on  December 30, 1984 in Akron, Ohio. As a kid he showed tremendous potential. He and his friends Sian Cotton , Dru Joyce III , and Willie McGee were dubbed the Fav Four. They chose to attend St. Vincent–St. Mary High School, a largely white private Catholic school. During high school he became one of the biggest name in the country.

LeBron James was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft. In 2010 he signed with Miami Heat. He was already a star by then. He along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh won back to back Championships in from 2012 to 2013. He returned to Cleveland in 2014 and is currently playing for them. He was part of the Olympic team that won gold in 2012 London Olympics. James has started at small forward and power forward, but can also play the other three positions.

LeBron James married his high school sweetheart  Savannah Brinson . The couple have 3 kids. James is one of the most marketable athletes in the world.

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LeBron James

LeBron Raymone James ▪ Twitter : KingJames ▪ Instagram: kingjames

(King James, LBJ, Chosen One, Bron-Bron, The Little Emperor, The Akron Hammer, L-Train, Benjamin Buckets)

Position: Small Forward, Power Forward, Point Guard, Center, and Shooting Guard ▪ Shoots: Right

6-9 ,  250lb  (206cm, 113kg)

Team : Los Angeles Lakers

Born: December 30 , 1984 in Akron,  Ohio us

High School: St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, Ohio

Recruiting Rank: 2003 (1)

Draft: Cleveland Cavaliers , 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 2003 NBA Draft

NBA Debut: October 29, 2003

Experience:  20 years

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• 2007-08 Scoring Champ
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• 5/20 Last Word on Sports: Cavaliers Unlikely to Trade Star to Western Conference Contender :  For most of the season, reports of the Cleveland Cavaliers potentially ...
• 5/20 Last Word on Sports: Eastern Conference Contender Hoping for ‘Big’ Offseason Trade :  The New York Knicks' season ended less than 24 hours ago but they're ...
• 5/20 HoopsWire: Report: LeBron James Not Involved In Lakers Coaching Search; NBA Exec Thinks Rob Pelinka Could Blame LeBron If JJ Redick Hire Doesn’t Work Out :  According to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, ...
• 5/20 HoopsWire: NBA Playoffs Full Of Firsts, And For Sixth Straight Year, New Champ Will Be Crowned :  Well, it’s about to get crazy again. For the sixth straight, ...
• 5/20 Last Word on Sports: 2024 NBA Draft: Teams Reconsider Bronny James’ Draft Stock :  The clock is ticking as teams prepare for the 2024 NBA Draft. A ...
• 5/20 The Report On Sports: Bronny James’ Draft Floor Set at Los Angeles Lakers for 2024 NBA Draft :  Bronny James, the promising young talent and son of NBA superstar ...
• 5/20 The Report On Sports: NBA Contenders Debate Drafting Bronny James to Sign LeBron James :  As the NBA season edges towards it’s climax, the buzz surrounding ...
• 5/19 Last Word on Sports: Kyrie Irving Extends Insane Streak With Series Win :  While many players are past their peak at age 32, Kyrie Irving ...
• 5/19 HoopsWire: Report: Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell Is Lakers’ No. 1 Trade Target :  According to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Cleveland ...
• 5/19 HoopsWire: Report: Teams Have Discussed Drafting Bronny James To Lure LeBron James In Free Agency :  Multiple NBA executives told Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times ...
• 5/19 Last Word on Sports: Kyrie Irving Opens Up About Struggles That Led Him to Mavs :  After the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder ...
• 5/19 HoopsWire: Report: Anthony Davis Played Big Role In Lakers Firing Darvin Ham :  According to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic, Anthony Davis ...
• 5/19 The Report On Sports: Chris Paul Sets Sights on NBA and WNBA Ownership After Retirement :  Chris Paul, point guard for the Golden State Warriors and a shoo-in ...
• 5/19 The Report On Sports: Kevin Garnett Sees ‘Young Kobe’ Potential in Bronny James at NBA Draft Combine :  At the NBA Draft Combine, former NBA star Kevin Garnett expressed ...
• 5/19 Last Word on Sports: NBA Legend Looks to Make Rare Career Change After Retirement :  Chris Paul the team owner? In an interview with Forbes writer ...
• 5/19 HoopsRumors: Lakers Rumors: Mitchell, Redick, LeBron, Reaves, Bronny :  As the Lakers weigh their offseason options, one path they will ...
• 5/18 NBA Analysis Network: How Celtics Took Down Cavs To Advance To Conference Finals :  During Wednesday’s NBA playoff action, the Boston Celtics ...
• 5/18 Last Word on Sports: Cavs Star Addresses Looming Contract Decision :  All eyes are on the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of the offseason. After ...
• 5/18 Last Word on Sports: How Often Have Teams Gotten the First Pick Right in NBA Draft? :  It was last Sunday that the Atlanta Hawks won the draft lottery ...
• 5/18 NBA Analysis Network: Cavs Could Make This Massive Change After Playoff Exit :  Despite leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to consecutive NBA playoff ...
• 5/18 NBA Analysis Network: Darius Garland Emerges As Possible Lakers Trade Target To Watch :  The Cleveland Cavaliers are poised to make significant changes ...
• 5/18 HoopsWire: Some NBA Personnel Believe LeBron James Went To Cavaliers Game To Scout Darius Garland For Lakers :  According to Grant Afseth of NBA Analysis Network, some NBA personnel ...
• 3/23 Basketball Reference: Most Triple-Doubles in a Career NBA :  In the modern NBA game, triple-doubles are more prevalent than ...
• Play-by-play data available for the 1996-97 through 2023-24 seasons.
• Shot location data available for the 1996-97 through 2023-24 seasons.
• Click Season link for player's season game log Click value for box score or list of games Search LeBron James' game log history
• Most similar performance arc through 20 seasons ( Explanation )
• Most similar career performance arc ( Explanation )

Appearances on Leaderboards, Awards, and Honors

June 26, 2003 : Drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1st round (1st pick) of the 2003 NBA Draft.

July 10, 2010 : Traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat for a 2011 2nd round draft pick ( Milan Mačvan was later selected), a 2012 2nd round draft pick ( Jae Crowder was later selected), a 2013 1st round draft pick ( Nemanja Nedović was later selected) and a 2016 1st round draft pick ( Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot was later selected). Cleveland also received a trade exception from Miami. Cleveland had the option to swap 1st round draft picks with Miami in 2012 but did not do so.

July 12, 2014 : Signed a multi-year contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers .

July 10, 2015 : Signed a multi-year contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers .

August 12, 2016 : Signed a multi-year contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers .

July 9, 2018 : Signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers .

November 22, 2021 : Suspended by the league. (1-game suspension)

August 18, 2022 : Signed a contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers .

• Player Option , Team Option   ·   NBA Contracts Summary
• Declined 2021-22 player option to sign extension Thursday, December 3, 2020.
• Signed 4-yr maximum salary contract on Monday, July 9, 2018 2021-22 is player option.

How old is LeBron James?

LeBron James is 39 years old.

Where was LeBron James born?

LeBron James was born in Akron, Ohio.

When was LeBron James born?

LeBron James was born on December 30, 1984.

How tall is LeBron James?

LeBron James is 6-9 (206 cm) tall.

How much does LeBron James weigh?

LeBron James weighs 250 lbs (113 kg).

Is LeBron James in the Hall of Fame?

LeBron James is not in the Hall of Fame.

When was LeBron James drafted?

LeBron James was drafted by Cleveland Cavaliers , 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall), 2003 NBA Draft .

What position does LeBron James play?

Small Forward, Power Forward, Point Guard, Center, and Shooting Guard.

What is LeBron James' net worth?

LeBron James has made at least $434,986,578 playing professional basketball.

How much does LeBron James make?

LeBron James made $44,474,988 in 2023.

What does LeBron James average?

LeBron James averages 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game.

How many rings does LeBron James have?

LeBron James has won 4 championships.

What is LeBron James' Twitter account?

LeBron James is on Twitter at KingJames .

What is LeBron James' Instagram account?

LeBron James is on Instagram at kingjames .

What schools did LeBron James attend?

LeBron James attended St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, Ohio .

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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.

LeBron James has history of postseason reflection. Don't read too much into it

After talking to people close to lebron james, it’s prudent to consider it’s not unusual for him to show vulnerability after a season-ending loss. it has happened multiple times..

LOS ANGELES − Even LeBron James has the occasional existential ennui.

We saw that late Monday night after the Denver Nuggets swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals when he revealed that retirement before next season is a possibility .

“Just for me personally going forward with the game of basketball, I’ve got a lot to think about,” James said.

It was a raw moment and not uncharacteristic from James in the aftermath of a long season that ended in a loss.

Multiply that with good friend Carmelo Anthony announcing his retirement from professional basketball Monday, leaving the 38-year-old James as the last remaining NBA player from the 2003 draft.

His oldest son, Bronny, is headed off to college in the fall to study and play basketball at Southern California.

He had a foot injury and played in just 55 games this season, missing 13 consecutive games late in the season. “I don’t like the fact that I didn’t play as many games as I would’ve liked because of the injury,” James said.

He will get an MRI. There could be surgery. There could be a long rehab. Maybe he’s not with the Lakers at the start of the season but joins the team when healthy.

It’s not a surprise that after 20 seasons, four championships, four Finals MVPs, four regular-season MVPs, 10 Finals appearances and the league’s all-time scoring record on his résumé that James broached retirement.

Even James asks himself: What’s next for the rest of my life?

James still has game. He had a 40-point, 10-rebound, nine-assist performance in the Game 4 loss to the Nuggets and made the All-NBA team for the 19 th time. It is remarkable.

But was that the end?

It’s too early to tell.

LEBRON JAMES HINTS AT RETIREMENT: A reality that shouldn't surprise NBA fans

NEXT STAGE: How will LeBron James' desire to play with Bronny affect his retirement decision?

After talking to people close to James, it’s prudent to consider that it’s not unusual for James to show vulnerability and make news following a season-ending loss.

It has happened multiple times.

When James lost to Boston in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals and headed into free agency, he told reporters, “It’s all about winning for me, and I think the Cavs are committed to do that. But at the same time, I’ve given myself options to this point.”

He used one of those options and left Cleveland for Miami, and when he lost to Dallas in the NBA Finals in his first season, he clawed at the criticism. “All the people that was rooting for me to fail, at the end of the day, they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life that they had before they woke up today," he said.

When his contract was up after Miami lost to San Antonio in the 2014 Finals, James said, “You guys are trying to find answers. I’m not going to give you one. I’m just not going to give it to you. When I get to that point, I’ll deal with it.”

Of course, he went back to Cleveland in 2014 and when the Cavs lost to Golden State in 2015, James offered another glimpse into his psyche.

“I always look at it: Would I rather not make the playoffs or lose in the Finals? I don’t know. I don’t know. … I’m almost starting to be like, I’d rather not even make the playoffs than to lose in the Finals," he said. "It would hurt a lot easier if I just didn’t make the playoffs, and I didn’t have a shot at it.”

But that’s not how he truly feels, as he acknowledged Monday, saying, “I don’t play for anything besides winning championships at this point in my career.”

At times, he didn’t sound like a player who wanted to retire. “I love to play the game. I love to compete," he said.

He could be using the moment as leverage to ensure the Lakers make roster improvements that put them in better position to win a title.

Bottom line: James often finds room for contemplative reflection after his last game of the season.

NBA mortality is real even for James. But James has not discussed retirement with his non-family inner circle, a person close to James told USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about James’ situation.

Following breadcrumbs can lead to a dead end with James. The more realistic scenario is that James gets away from basketball for a short time, assesses his foot injury, spends time with family and friends and recovers from a long season.

Maybe Monday was James’ last NBA game. But once the disappointment wears off, I suspect James will commit to at least another season.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Picks and parlays: How to find NBA expert picks and tips

Bronny James is ready to be himself, but the NBA still sees LeBron James Jr.

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The wall of cameras and reporters focused on Bronny James against the blue back drop, the diamond stud in his right ear reflecting the lights as he answered different versions of the same question at the NBA scouting combine.

“To be honest,” he said with a soft smile, “It’s a lot.”

No one flat-out asked — it would’ve been too rude, too direct — “Bronny, aren’t you just here because of your dad?”

It’s the question that has followed him wherever he has gone.

Did he really deserve those minutes at Sierra Canyon? Was he really a five-star recruit? Did he earn that spot on the McDonald’s All-American team?

Why in the hell is he entering the NBA draft after averaging 4.8 points as a freshman at USC?

And earlier this week at the NBA combine, every time a question encroached on that topic, James answered confidently.

LeBron James and LeBron James Jr. share a name. They don’t necessarily share a basketball future.

“My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself, and of course, you know, get to the NBA,” Bronny said. “… I never thought about just playing with my dad, but of course he’s, he’s brought it up a couple times.

“But yeah, I don’t think about it.”

At the combine, he might be the only one.

In Chicago, Bronny James made it clear he wanted to be judged on his own , independent of any other factor. He wanted to be his own man.

“You know, everything that follows my dad, people just try to link me with that, and the greatness that he’s achieved,” Bronny answered. “Like I haven’t done anything yet.”

Yet according to NBA executives and scouts from around the league, that’s impossible.

Despite Bronny‘s statements, despite word from LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul and even James himself, the father and son remain inevitably linked, Bronny’s draft stock and LeBron James’ free agency tied as tightly as ever.

Forget second-round evaluations, multiple NBA executives told The Times their teams have discussed drafting Bronny James in the first round in an effort to lure his father to their team in free agency.

“If you’re a contender and you’re not having those conversations, it’s irresponsible,” said one executive, who like other NBA personnel spoke on condition of anonymity because teams don’t share their draft strategy.

It’s doesn’t matter if anyone believes a plan like that will work. It shows what he’s facing.

Bronny James can want to make his own name; the NBA letting him is a completely different thing.

Off the court, he’s unavoidable. On the court, he blends with the background.

“What’s going on with Bronny,” the general managers, scouts and personnel types want to know.

Bronny entered the NBA draft combine last week somehow both wildly famous while still being a basketball mystery. He left it as a more serious draft prospect, but that’s mostly relative.

The scouting of him began well before his season at USC, his play at events such as the Nike Hoop Summit leaving him as a one of the most desired prospects in the 2023 recruiting class.

Before this week, teams had James ranked in the late second round if he was draftable at all.

“He’s not ready,” one evaluator told The Times.

There were still believers.

His proponents in the NBA scouting community would point to a variety of factors to explain the gap in his production at USC with his potential future as a pro in the NBA.

Bronny James not thinking of playing with his dad, he’d be happy getting to NBA

“I would be happy about getting to the league instead of me thinking about playing with my dad,” Bronny James said at NBA draft combine Tuesday.

May 14, 2024

Those scouts like Bronny’s defensive willingness, his toughness on that side of the ball. They point to his athleticism and physicality as the tools that can make a difference in point-of-attack defense.

While he didn’t make spot-up shots at USC, the sense was that he’d shoot the ball fine with time because of his work ethic and mechanics.

The first alarm at the combine went off when Bronny measured at just 6 feet 1 ½ inches in socks — “they don’t play in socks,” scouts like to say.

“If he was 6 foot 5, we’d be talking about him in the first round,” one NBA executive told The Times.

But he’s not, those inches making the road to success even harder to navigate. It’s not an impossibility — players such as Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey and New York’s Jalen Brunson measured similarly during their pre-draft processes. However both players were far more productive in college, helping mitigate some of those size concerns.

Both also were regarded as point guards, and most people in Chicago don’t see Bronny as that kind of offensive player.

Athletically, Bronny helped himself early in the combine, his 40.5-inch vertical tied for sixth best. And Monday, with scouts getting a look at him on the court, some for the first time, he burned the nets to give him some buzz going into Tuesday.

But in his first scrimmage, he fell flat. Bronny faded into the game, flashing some fire only when he allowed offensive rebounds or turned the ball over. Most disappointingly to some scouts, he didn’t look as if he played with a lot of effort.

“He’s too timid,” one scout familiar with Bronny for years said before the combine.

After Tuesday, that scout looked to be a prophet.

Still, the expectation in Chicago was that Bronny would eventually declare for the draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility.

Playing in one final team setting Wednesday, he showed why. Bronny attacked closeouts, he played decisively and competed on the defensive end.

It was best-case scenario for teams looking to see what he could do in more of a pro setting.

But it didn’t answer the biggest questions.

Those are too difficult to understand.

“That time.” “This issue.” “Everything you went through.” “A thing that happened.”

No one — reporters or Bronny — could bring themselves to say “ cardiac arrest ” either.

While the focus during Bronny‘s first media session in nearly a year centered on his basketball future with his father, an undercurrent of gratitude, perspective and fright flowed from one answer to another.

“I still think about everything that could happen,” Bronny said.

And that has to be terrifying.

Last July, Bronny fell to the court inside USC’s Galen Center and no one could be sure he’d ever get up.

He’d lost consciousness. His heart stopped. Trainers used a defibrillator to electrify his heart back into movement.

USC players recount harrowing moments from Bronny James’ cardiac arrest

Bronny James’ cardiac arrest initially left USC basketball players in a state of shock. Now they’re looking forward to when he’ll be cleared to play.

Sept. 26, 2023

He bounced back faster than anyone could’ve thought. Teammates remembered him sitting up and joking 15 minutes after he collapsed lifelessly to the court.

By the time he arrived at the hospital, Bronny was “neurologically intact and stable,” according to his cardiologist.

He would later undergo surgery to correct a congenital heart defect.

At the start of the combine, NBA doctors cleared him to compete . But Bronny still hasn’t gotten clear from the fear.

“It’s still lingering,” he said.

How that incident, this issue, that thing that happened, affected what happened last season at USC and affects what happens next can’t be ignored.

What happened that day in July, you don’t shake it. It changes you. And in Bronny James’ case, it made him appreciative.

“It’s just, it’s just a great thing to happen to me in terms of just being grateful for everything and stuff like that,” he said. “… I put in the work and stuff like that to get back. So I feel like I’ve earned the opportunity.”

The way this will all go at the NBA draft and how it should go are probably two different things.

Bronny’s arrival in the NBA was to be the final chapter in LeBron’s career. He said that in 2018, and two years later, called the idea of teaming up with his son “a dream.”

Yet as that dream increasingly began to look like a reality, there was a shift. Privately, people around James began to walk back those desires, trying to unbundle his future from his son’s. Publicly, he did the same .

And this week in Chicago, Bronny clearly articulated that his goal was to make the NBA — not to make the NBA as his father’s teammate.

But is anyone hearing them?

Contending teams have discussed drafting Bronny as early as the 20s despite not having cap space to make LeBron a max offer. Maybe, the thinking is, James would actually consider signing for the midlevel exception if they drafted his son.

“Honestly, I feel like this is a serious business. And I don’t feel like there would be a thought of, ‘I’m just drafting this kid just because I’m gonna get his dad,’” Bronny said. “Like, I don’t think a GM would really allow that.”

Maybe not, but it’s being discussed.

The prevailing wisdom around the NBA is that LeBron will eventually decide to remain with the Lakers in free agency this summer regardless of who drafts Bronny.

The Lakers, who have the No. 55 overall pick in the draft, conducted a prospect interview with Bronny and are seen by league sources as Bronny’s floor.

If teams decide to draft Bronny solely on his skills and projections, they’ll undoubtedly be accused of trying to lure LeBron ahead of his 22nd season.

Latest Lakers intel: Sources view JJ Redick as a leading coaching candidate

The Lakers made the most of the NBA scouting combine, fielding coaching candidate pitches, discussing trade options, evaluating Bronny James and more.

May 16, 2024

It’s a guarantee — one of the only ones to be found in the pre-draft process.

In his first audition for life as a professional basketball player, Bronny said he wanted to be siloed from the success of his father. He wanted his future to be about his game and not his name.

But like the children of the ultra-successful and ultra-famous know, that’s never really part of the deal.

Maybe Bronny will get his chance to show that he can help a NBA team win, that he can be the kind of defensive role player who can shoot that teams crave.

Or maybe he’ll be a pawn in a scheme — a calculated risk in a poorly regarded draft.

It’ll be a hard road, and he has gotten up from tougher.

But Bronny James said he’s ready.

And for now, all anyone can do is listen to him.

Staff writers Ryan Kartje and Richard Winton contributed to this report.

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Dan Woike is the Lakers beat writer for the Los Angeles Times after spending two seasons covering the league as a whole, with an emphasis on Los Angeles’ teams.

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28 books to read this summer

From absorbing histories to funny fiction and everything in between

According to experts, this is going to be the busiest summer for travel in almost 20 years. You’ll need books for all those trains, planes and automobiles (only in the passenger seats, please). Here are 28 books we’ve enjoyed this year that would make good company, from absorbing histories to funny fiction and everything in between.

‘The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the C.I.A., and the Origins of America’s Invasion of Iraq’

By Steve Coll

Nonfiction | The latest from Pulitzer Prize winner and former Washington Post writer and editor Coll is a bracing moment of clarity for anyone in the U.S. foreign policy establishment willing to listen. It revisits Saddam Hussein as a nuanced figure, not a caricature, reexamining the mutually reinforcing delusions of the Iraqi dictator and four U.S. administrations. (Penguin Press)

‘The Cemetery of Untold Stories’

By Julia Alvarez

Fiction | Alvarez’s new novel — like her pathbreaking “How the García Girls Lost Their Accents,” from 1991 — explores sisterhood, family secrets, and immigration and return. But it also charts new, at times surreal, territory for her, with its story of a celebrated Dominican American author who resolves to build a little house on some inherited land, where she literally buries her unfinished work. (Algonquin)

‘Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space’

By Adam Higginbotham

Nonfiction | Calamities and near misses have molded NASA as much as the giant leaps the agency has taken, and no tragedy is more indelible than the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. Higginbotham’s book is a compelling, exhaustively researched and freshly told chronicle of the tragedy that traces its full arc. (Avid Reader)

‘City in Ruins’

By Don Winslow

Fiction | The final volume of Winslow’s City trilogy — and, apparently, his fiction-writing career — is a spectacular farewell. Over the course of the series (inspired by Virgil’s “Aeneid”), its hero, Danny Ryan, has gotten mixed up with the mob in his home state of Rhode Island and resurrected himself in Hollywood. In “City in Ruins,” Ryan has landed in Las Vegas, where past vendettas resurface in delightfully terrible ways. (William Morrow)

‘Come and Get It’

By Kiley Reid

Fiction | Reid’s novel examines the lives of young women at the University of Arkansas. There’s sex in it, but the real complications and most intimate details involve financial figures and the ways that unequal economic positions create clashing sets of values. Reid’s exquisitely calibrated tone slips tantalizingly between sympathy and satire. (Putnam)

‘Glad to the Brink of Fear: A Portrait of Ralph Waldo Emerson’

By James Marcus

Nonfiction | Much has been written about the brilliant essayist and transcendentalist pioneer, but Marcus’s work stands out for his passion for his subject and his understanding of what makes a successful biography. This book is delightful for any reader, however much (or little) they already know about Emerson. (Princeton)

‘Great Expectations’

By Vinson Cunningham

Fiction | A roman à clef about the first Obama presidential campaign, based on Cunningham’s own experiences, “Great Expectations” elegantly explores the mind of its young Black narrator as he struggles to divine his place in the nation. With an eye to questions of faith, Cunningham crafts a coming-of-age story that captures not only the soul of America but also the unquenchable thirst for meaning. (Hogarth)

‘Grief Is for People’

By Sloane Crosley

Nonfiction | Crosley, an essayist and novelist known for her humor, holds on to it here while telling the story of her best friend and his suicide in 2019. Her book is not a philosophical meditation on grief but an honest account of its cruelties and contradictions. It contains no lessons, no morals and no solutions. It is as messy, rollicking and chaotic as life is. (MCD)

‘The Hunter’

By Tana French

Fiction | French’s sequel to “The Searcher” brings readers back to rural Ireland, where retired Chicago police detective Cal Hooper is drawn into a long con involving the father of a young teen he has taken under his wing. This tense and moody novel burns slowly and beautifully, its plot unfolding mostly through conversations that hint at lurking trouble. (Viking)

‘The Husbands’

By Holly Gramazio

Fiction | In a world of endless choices — dating apps, shopping, games — why not romantic partners? Gramazio’s 31-year-old protagonist is thrown into a revolving door of possible husbands and possible lives, a fantastical way for her — and readers — to ponder the age-old question: “What if?” (Doubleday)

‘I Heard Her Call My Name’

By Lucy Sante

Nonfiction | In this memoir , Sante, an essayist on art and culture and the author of “Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York,” bounces between her experience of gender transition in 2021 and the eventful and well-told details of her entire life. It’s about the cost of trying to live two different lives: as a man or a woman, but also as a human being and a writer. (Penguin Press)

By Percival Everett

Fiction | Everett is a preeminent American author, and “James” is his sly response to “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” The title immediately suggests what he is up to with this subversive revision. In these pages, the enslaved man known as Jim can finally declare: “I will not let this condition define me. … My name became my own.” While Everett flashes his own brand of humor, the novel gathers speed and terror like a swelling storm. Its conclusion is equally shocking and exhilarating. (Doubleday)

‘Listen for the Lie’

By Amy Tintera

Fiction | Did Lucy kill her best friend years ago? She doesn’t remember, or so she says, and her attempt to put this all behind her is upended when a podcaster unearths the cold case. Tintera draws on our love of true crime, and podcasts about true crime, to create an entertaining and thoroughly modern mystery novel . (Celadon)

‘Long Island’

By Colm Tóibín

Fiction | In Colm Tóibín’s “Brooklyn” (2009), a young woman named Eilis Lacey left her home in Ireland for New York. This sequel revisits the themes of home and loss from a completely new perspective. Eilis is now in her 40s, the mother of two teenagers, and she learns of a dramatic secret her husband has been keeping. (Scribner)

‘The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony’

By Annabelle Tometich

Nonfiction | Tometich knew there would be headlines when her mother, Josefina, was arrested for using a pellet gun to shoot out the car window of a mango thief. But she was still surprised by how harshly people judged her Filipina immigrant mother. In seeking to understand the complexity of Josefina’s life, Tometich reveals the difficulties that many immigrants and multiracial families face. (Little, Brown)

‘The Ministry of Time’

By Kaliane Bradley

Fiction | Can a 21st-century British-Cambodian woman find love with a 19th-century officer of the British navy? That’s the question at the heart of Bradley’s debut , a delicious blend of historical fact, archaeological speculation and wacky fantasy. What feels initially like a time-traveling romance soon turns on curious questions about the possibility of moral progress. (Avid Reader)

By Phillip B. Williams

Fiction | In the 1830s, a mysterious woman named Saint uses magic to free enslaved people and help them build a magically hidden town near St. Louis named Ours. Williams finds new ways to ask age-old questions : How do we have both safety and freedom? What makes a ragtag group into a community? And most important, how do we find the missing parts of ourselves in other people? (Viking)

‘Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring’

By Brad Gooch

Nonfiction | Haring, a joyful artist best known for his “Radiant Baby” drawings — cartoon infants surrounded by rays of energy — influentially blurred the lines between art and commerce before dying from AIDS, at 31, in 1990. Gooch’s biography does exactly what biographies of the exceptionally famous should do: Gently, graciously, it reels in the myth, restoring the flesh-and-bone reality of its subject. (Harper)

By Justin Taylor

Fiction | Taylor’s second novel is a very serious story about the perniciousness of conspiracy thinking, wrapped in a very funny yarn about the possible reboot of “Rev Beach,” a short-lived but beloved teen drama in the vein of “The O.C.” Taylor captures some Don DeLillo-like paranoia (and humor), worried that living in a heavily mediated reality is messing with our heads. (Pantheon)

‘The Spoiled Heart’

By Sunjeev Sahota

Fiction | In “The Spoiled Heart,” Sahota, who has twice been nominated for the Booker Prize, makes a provocative, humane drama out of a labor union election and its two leading candidates: Nayan Olak, an affable, well-respected Anglo-Indian manager, and Megha Sharma, a smart young woman, also of Indian descent, fluent in the combative dialects of critical theory and identity politics. (Viking)

‘There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension’

By Hanif Abdurraqib

Nonfiction | The latest from award-winning poet and essayist Abdurraqib is part sports memoir, part love letter to Columbus, Ohio. The narrative is structured like a basketball game: divided into quarters, with “timeouts” where the flow of prose is punctuated by verse. Focused in part on LeBron James and his 2010 split from the Cleveland Cavaliers, it’s a book about who makes it and why, and what “making it” even means. (Random House)

‘This Strange Eventful History’

By Claire Messud

Fiction | Messud’s new novel was partly inspired by a 1,500-page memoir written by her paternal grandfather. The novel imagines how three generations of a family (the Cassars) rode the geopolitical waves from World War II into the 21st century. It’s a work of cavernous depth and relentless exploration, and makes us realize how much we know and how little we confess about our own families. (W.W. Norton)

‘An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s’

By Doris Kearns Goodwin

Nonfiction | There are hundreds of books about the politics of the 1960s, but the latest from the acclaimed historian Goodwin manages to be different. She and her husband, Richard, were extremely close to the Kennedys and Lyndon Johnson. Goodwin gives us hundreds of interesting vignettes about these historic characters, and she apportions credit for the landmark legislative accomplishments of the decade. (Simon & Schuster)

‘Wandering Stars’

By Tommy Orange

Fiction | Six years after his explosive debut, “There There,” Orange’s second novel expands that story’s universe of Native American characters struggling to define their identities. “Wandering Stars” stretches from 1864 to the present day to consider how a program of cultural annihilation designed by White society affects the descendants of a Cheyenne boy who barely survived a massacre against his people. (Knopf)

‘We Loved It All: A Memory of Life’

By Lydia Millet

Nonfiction | Acclaimed novelist Millet’s first foray into nonfiction is a profoundly evocative ode to life itself , in all its strange, wondrous and imperiled forms. She weaves disparate threads together expertly, reinforcing how our individual memories, our ancestral identities, and the future of human and nonhuman life are fundamentally inextricable. (W.W. Norton)

‘Whiskey Tender’

By Deborah Jackson Taffa

Nonfiction | Taffa, part of a mixed-tribe, mixed-race family, spent her early years on the Quechan (Yuma) reservation in southeastern California. By her late teens, living in New Mexico, she was disillusioned with the middle-class life her parents had “jerry-rigged” for her and longed for a deeper connection to her Native identity. Some reviewers have called this a “Native memoir,” but Taffa’s story is in fact distinctly American , full stop, and one that a country afraid of its own history needs to hear. (Harper)

‘The Women’

By Kristin Hannah

Fiction | Hannah’s latest historical novel is another best-selling, tear-jerking tragedy. The fate that befalls Frankie McGrath is multilayered, but all of it can be traced back to the moment she impulsively volunteers to be an Army nurse in Vietnam. Hannah does her characteristic best to have readers hanging on Frankie’s fate and that of a robust supporting cast. (St. Martin’s)

By Alexandra Tanner

Fiction | Tanner’s bitingly funny debut novel , set in the pre-pandemic months of 2019, follows two sisters as they slide into mutual isolation in their Brooklyn apartment. It is paced like the internet, full of petty micro-dramas, and it suggests that we were doomed to social isolation long before covid began to spread. (Scribner)