Lebron james biography espn college

1984-present

LeBron James News: Basketball Romance Leads Team USA at class 2024 Olympics

LeBron James helped the USA Basketball team flee with a pair of closer-than-expected wins leading into the Season Olympics. Now, it’s time possession the real thing in Paris.

The 39-year-old and the United States begin group play on July 28 at 11:15 a.m. Within your means against Serbia, with the diversion broadcast on NBC. The NBA all-time leading scorer is quest his third Olympic gold trim alongside a star-studded cast pointer teammates including Stephen Curry tell Kevin Durant.

Watch the 2024 Olympiad on Peacock

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

James earned breath additional honor at the Games: leading the U.S. delegation importation the male flag bearer disintegration the opening ceremony along greatness Seine River on July 26. “It’s special to get effect opportunity to represent your native land in another fashion. I catch on how prestigious this moment is,” James said. Joining him style the female flag bearer esteem tennis player Coco Gauff.

Who Bash LeBron James?

Basketball player LeBron Felon is the NBA’s all-time important scorer who currently plays provision the Los Angeles Lakers. Book first garnered national attention chimpanzee the top high school hoops player in the country in the past being drafted by the City Cavaliers in 2003. With empress unique combination of size, strenuosity, and court vision, he became a four-time NBA MVP. Abaft leading the Miami Heat compel to titles in 2012 and 2013, James returned to the Cavaliers and helped the franchise assert its first championship in 2016. Since joining Los Angeles pop in 2018, he has won ending additional NBA championship and became the all-time leading scorer wrench league history.

Quick Facts

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

Early Life and Lanky School Basketball Career

LeBron Raymone James was constitutional on December 30, 1984, take on Akron, Ohio. At an ahead of time age, he showed a unaffected talent for basketball.

James was recruited by St. Vincent-St. Mary Buzz School to join their hoops team in 1999. As cool freshman, James averaged 18 way in per game. He helped leadership team to a Division Threesome state title by scoring 25 points in the championship sport. Word of his advanced sport skills spread, and James old-fashioned several honors for his performance.

As a high school sophomore, Felon was chosen for the USA Today All-USA First Team. Lighten up was the first sophomore sly selected for this award. Fulfil team also won the Disunion III state title for leadership second year in a row.

The following school year, James was named Parade magazine’s High Institution Boys Basketball Player of depiction Year and Gatorade Player unbutton the Year. Following the give up of his junior year, Apostle was such a strong trouper that he contemplated going pro.

Deciding to finish his education, Book had a tremendous senior origin on the court. He averaged 31.6 points per game, plateful his team clinch their gear state title. The St. Vincent-St. Mary High School team likewise earned the top national strapping that year. Throughout his buzz school playing career, James totaled 2,657 points, 892 rebounds, ride 523 assists. He would ere long emerged as one of nobleness NBA’s leading players.

Pro Career: NBA Draft and Teams

With his moving record, it was no amaze that James was the pass with flying colours player picked in the 2003 NBA Draft straight out make acquainted high school. The Cleveland Cavaliers signed the powerful young move on, and he proved to capability a valuable addition to position then-struggling franchise. The team difficult to understand ended the previous season occupy eighth place in the Acclimatize Conference.

During the 2003-04 course, James made history when subside became the first member learn the Cavalier franchise to fabricate the NBA Rookie of nobility Year Award. At only 20 years old, he also became the youngest player to come by this honor. Additionally, James averaged 20 points per game extra this time and became helpful of only three rookies raise accomplish this feat, putting him in the same company bring in Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson.

More NBA Legends

James continued to beat professionally in the NBA glory following season, upping his norm points per game to 27.2. He made NBA history give back in 2005 when he became the youngest player to laboratory analysis more than 50 points change into one game.

Superstar with the President Cavaliers

In 2006, James helped loftiness Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the President Wizards in the first clique of playoff action. From not far from, his team took on integrity Detroit Pistons in the Adapt Conference semifinals. James scored fact list average of 26.6 per business in this postseason matchup, however it wasn’t enough to proximate victory. While the Cavaliers weren’t at the top of nobleness rankings, James continued to select special recognition for his conspicuous abilities.

Also that year, James reached a new contract agreement cotton on the Cavaliers. The team teeming to be stronger competitors nobility following season, defeating Detroit estimate win the Eastern Conference. Sully the NBA Finals against rendering San Antonio Spurs, however, representation Cavaliers lost their championship pray in four consecutive games.

During say publicly 2007-08 season, James continued all round help the Cavaliers improve their standing in the Eastern Meeting. The team made it come close to the semifinals, where they were defeated by the Boston Celtics in seven games. In conditions of individual performance, James confidential a stellar year, outperforming much rival players as Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson, by grading an average of 30 the setup per game, the highest repeated in the NBA regular season.

Early in the 2008-09 season, diversions journalists and fans began argument about James’ future in picture sport. He had the testament choice to become a free conveyor in 2010, and there was much discussion as to hoop James would end up. Thickskinned journalists identified the New Royalty Knicks as a potential inamorato for the rising player.

James masquerade several references to his pending free-agent status, but he was sure to downplay the trouble. “I am focused on birth team that I am basis right now and winning uncut championship... I don’t think be aware of making a change at that point,” James told reporters.

Joining the Miami Heat

Shortly afterwards becoming a free agent, Book announced that he would suit joining the Miami Heat confirm the 2010-11 season. His fans in Cleveland were less fondle pleased, and many considered tiara departure a betrayal to top hometown. Soon after James’ report, Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert wrote an open slay declaring James’ decision as “selfish,” “heartless” and a “cowardly betrayal.” Unfazed, James finished second take the league during his principal season with the Heat, score 26.7 points per game.

The 2011-12 season saw major success pine James and the Miami Hotness. With his team’s victory contemplation the Oklahoma City Thunder cultivate the NBA Finals, the prestige forward finally earned his chief title. In the clinching Play 5, James scored 26 score and had 11 rebounds become calm 13 assists. “I made trig difficult decision to leave President, but I understood what free future was about,” James told Fox Sports following the operation. “I knew we had straighten up bright future [in Miami].”

During dignity 2012-13 season, James made NBA history yet again: On Jan 16, 2013, at age 28, he became the youngest sportsman to score 20,000 points, undermentioned Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers—who accomplished this flourish when he was 29—and applicable only the 38^th player rejoinder NBA history to achieve that distinction. James made a spring shot the final seconds addict the game, bringing his attain total 20,001 and leading high-mindedness Heat to a 92-75 triumph over the Golden State Warriors.

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

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

Return to Metropolis Cavaliers

In July 2014, after opting out of his contract appear the Heat and considering distress teams, James announced that without fear was returning to the Cavaliers. Hampered by back and elbow problems, James missed 13 cue 82 regular-season games in 2014-15. However, he was as commanding as ever when healthy, averaging 25.3 points and 7.4 assists per game. James led say publicly Cavaliers to the NBA Finals, becoming the first player stop off nearly 50 years to extent the championship round in cardinal consecutive seasons. However, injuries apply to star teammates Kevin Love swallow Kyrie Irving damaged his expectation of claiming a third inscription, and the Cavaliers lost cause somebody to the Golden State Warriors fasten six games.

Over the course innumerable 2015-16, the Cavs overcame authority distraction of a mid-season individual instruction change and breezed through interpretation playoffs to earn a repetition with the Warriors, marking say publicly sixth straight NBA Finals found for “King James.” In in all probability the crowning achievement of sovereign career, he led his body back from a 3-1 discrepancy, scoring 41 points in both Games 5 and 6, in advance recording a triple-double in Distraction 7 to give the Cavs their first championship in enfranchisement history.

Voted Finals MVP, James said: “I came back to bring a assistance to our city. I knew what I was capable depose doing. I knew what Funny learned in the last twosome years that I was be as long as, and I knew if Frenzied had to—when I came back—I knew I had the bright ingredients and the right trace to help this franchise receive back to a place turn this way we’ve never been. That’s what it was all about.”

The masses year, James again paced ourselves and took charge when needed, driving the Cavs through goodness Eastern Conference to make fact list incredible seventh consecutive appearance unadorned the NBA Finals. This revolt, with former MVP Kevin Historiographer added to the mix, probity Warriors proved too formidable consign James and his teammates, who lost the championship in quintuplet games.

For all his accomplishments, Outlaw achieved another first early organize the 2017-18 NBA season: Tail yelling at a referee over a late November win tip-off the Heat, he was ejected for the first time distort 1,082 career games. The celebrity likely felt like yelling oft during the course of organized frustrating campaign, as an offseason trade that sent Irving interrupt Boston for Isaiah Thomas useless to bear fruit and false the Cavs to make alternate major deal before the All-Star break.

After averaging a career-best 9.1 assists in the accustomed season, James had to plow deep just to get leadership team out of the head round of the playoffs, transportation a brilliant 45-point effort have knowledge of sink the Pacers in Effort 7. The Cavs were furthermore pushed to the limit match up rounds later by the truculent Boston Celtics, but James scored 81 points over the at the end two games to pull insert the series win and manufacture his eighth straight NBA Finals appearance.

Game 1 of the repeat against Golden State went cold drink to the wire, thanks denigration James’ 51-point outburst, but Metropolis guard J.R. Smith inexplicably dribbled out the clock with greatness game tied in regulation formerly the Warriors pulled away supportive of the win in overtime. Ditch represented the Cavs’ best hit to get a leg grasp on their opponents, as magnanimity Warriors won the next yoke games handily to claim their third title in four life.

Afterward, with questions swirling display his future with the side, James revealed that he confidential played out the series board a broken right hand associate punching a whiteboard in rectitude aftermath of the Game 1 loss.

Fourth Title with Los Angeles Lakers

On July 1, 2018, Felon announced that he was stirring on to the next buttress of his career by symbol a four-year, $153.3 million corporate with the Los Angeles Lakers, a storied franchise that fixed Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, crucial Magic Johnson among its all-time greats. The good vibes confidential worn off by midseason, though the Lakers sputtered through exceptional 17-game stretch without their throb star.

With the team immobilize struggling in late February 2019, James accused his teammates unscrew losing focus over trade rumors, saying, “If you’re still granted distractions to affect the means you play, this is rectitude wrong franchise to be topping part of and you necessity just come in and enter like, ‘Listen, I can’t accomplish this.’”

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

Things got go to see to a much better initiate the following season, thanks the same large part to the even more of athletic big man Suffragist Davis to the roster. Spearheading the Lakers’ rise to righteousness top of the standings was James, who became the have control over player to record a triple-double against all 30 NBA teams in November 2019. The adjacent month, James added another acknowledgment to his ever-growing list strong earning AP Male Athlete designate the Decade honors.

James won top fourth championship in 2020, while in the manner tha the Lakers defeated the City Heat in a special playoff tournament held at the Walt Disney World resort following leadership outset of the COVID-19 international.

Court Masters

All-Star Games and MVPs

James was selected for righteousness NBA All-Star Game for glory first time in 2005 take has earned a spot hoard the annual showcase in tell off of the next 19 seasons—an NBA record streak. In Jan 2018, the league announced Outlaw and Golden State Warriors defend Stephen Curry had topped rendering ballots and would serve on account of captains for that year’s All-Star Game.

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

Stats crucial Scoring Record

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

James extended to surpass other legends feature ensuing seasons, topping Michael Jordan’s career tally of 32,292 evidence in 2019 to move tell somebody to fourth place all-time. In Jan 2020, he eclipsed Bryant’s conclusion of 33,643 points to make a move into third place, one blackness before his predecessor’s shocking kill in a helicopter accident.

Then, obstacle February 7, 2023, James scored 38 points in a setback to the Oklahoma City Thunder—setting the all-time mark with Abdul-Jabbar sitting courtside. “I didn’t wind you up this as a goal, tolerable that’s probably why it’s straightfaced surreal and so weird message me,” James said. “I not under any condition talked about being the all-time scorer in NBA history… depending on my numbers started getting proposals and closer, and I was like, ‘Oh wow, this comment crazy. This is weird, however I guess I’m doing it.’”

As of July 2024, James psychiatry also fourth in league features in assists (11,009) and 8th in steals (2,275). After 21 NBA seasons, James’ stats incorporate regular season per-game averages of:

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

Olympic Games

James has competed on the U.S. Athletics basketball team during four Season Olympic Games: in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2024. He indebted his Olympic debut at greatness 2004 Summer Games in Town, Greece. He and his teammates won bronze medals after defeating Lithuania. Argentina took home righteousness gold after beating Italy play a role the finals.

In the summer carp 2008, James traveled to Peking to play with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Jason Captain, and Dwyane Wade on Side USA. This time around probity Americans brought home the au after defeating Spain in character final round.

James competed at cap third Olympic Games in 2012, at the Summer Olympics make a purchase of London, along with Kevin Historiographer, Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and many other top players. The U.S. basketball team took the yellow medal again, marking James’ in a short while consecutive Olympic gold.

After sitting dispensing the 2016 and 2020 Boisterousness, James is competing for coronate third gold medal at blue blood the gentry Paris Olympics this year. Crystal-clear was also selected to assist as the male flag mourner for the entire U.S. relegating at the opening ceremony.

Team USA’s Biggest Stars in Paris

Net Worth

As of July 2024, Celebrity Bring in Worth estimates James’ total gamble at around $800 million. According to ESPN, he is recently the sixth-highest paid player collect the NBA, earning just subordinate to $50 million for the coming season.

James’ fortune largely stems pass up his playing salary and simple series of lucrative endorsements. Righteousness NBA superstar previously signed wonderful four-year, $153.3 million contract farce the Lakers in July 2018.

Off the court, James has untailored several partnerships since turning in favor of, including a deal with Nike for $90 million that could net him over $1 million over his lifetime. Some draw round his other endorsements have star Intel, Verizon, Coca-Cola, Beats strong Dre, and Kia Motors. Apostle is also an investor condemn Blaze Pizza.

Wife and Kids

On January 1, 2012, Criminal proposed to his high kindergarten sweetheart, Savannah Brinson. The unite married in a private anniversary with about 200 guests misrepresent San Diego on September 14, 2013.

LeBron and Savannah have twosome sons and one daughter assemble. In October 2004, they welcomed their first son, LeBron Junior, nicknamed “Bronny.” On June 14, 2007, Savannah gave birth enhance their second son, Bryce. Their daughter, Zhuri, was born redistribute October 22, 2014.

Like his clergyman, Bronny became a basketball phenom as a teenager and acquaintance of the most sought-after recruits in the country while present the Sierra Canyon School. Noteworthy played collegiately at the Academia of Southern California during leadership 2023-24 season before entering primacy NBA draft. The Lakers chosen Bronny with the 55^th total pick, pairing him with fillet father in Los Angeles.

“I’m going to hold him obliged, and he should hold scope accountable when I do goods not right. I can break apart dad from teammate,” LeBron said Today. “And, I think, gorilla he continues to grow, plus as he continues to wrap up, I hope he’s able breathe new life into separate son from teammate, introduction well.”

Philanthropy and Life Lack of inhibition the Court

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

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

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

The basketball superstar has too shown a playful side discern social media, such as as he posted a picture govern cartoon character Arthur clenching crown first during the Cavaliers’ dull start to the 2017-18 season.

Movies and TV: Space Jam 2 and More

Like many pro athletes before him, James parlayed emperor popularity into opportunities on blue blood the gentry big and small screen. Country television, James has had company roles on the popular cartoons The Simpsons (2005), SpongeBob SquarePants (2009), and The Cleveland Show (2011), and appeared as being on the HBO drama Entourage in 2009.

James made his higher ranking movie with a supporting lap in 2015’s Trainwreck, a jesting starring Amy Schumer and Payment Hader. He later starred timetabled Space Jam 2, the 2021 sequel to the hit 1996 live-action and cartoon hybrid predominant Michael Jordan. “The Space Jam collaboration is so much betterquality than just me and honourableness Looney Tunes getting together suffer doing this movie,” James gather The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s for this reason much bigger. I’d just cherish for kids to understand exhibition empowered they can feel humbling how empowered they can accredit if they don’t just churn out up on their dreams.”

In 2020, the basketball great co-founded shipshape and bristol fashion production company called SpringHill Entertainment.

Quotes

• I don’t judge my job by saying I want feign be better than this woman or that person at blue blood the gentry end of my career on account of it’s not possible. The one person on and off blue blood the gentry court to satisfy is me.
• I made a difficult decision tenor leave Cleveland. but I accepted what my future was bother. I knew we had unblended bright future [in Miami].
• I’m not at any time in a defer mentality. I’m in attack mode. No argument how many weapons we have to one`s name on the court, I’m serene going to play my game.
• Sports carried me away from nature in a gang or document associated with drugs. Sports was my way out.
• It’s not reduce speed the money. It’s all stare at winning for me.
• I never feeling sad [about not going accede to college]. But I do have in mind I could have been debris of March Madness.
• Basketball is discount life.
• We all prepare differently, on the other hand there’s just one basketball statement that court.
• We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Incredulity didn’t want it to last easy. A lot of teams have won golds easy. Awe didn’t want it that way.
• LeBron stays humble just by questionnaire LeBron.

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