LeBron James
In addition to ranking fourth in NBA career assists and sixth in NBA career steals, James holds several individual honors, including four NBA MVP awards, four Finals MVP awards, the Rookie of the Year award, three All-Star Game MVP awards, the inaugural NBA Cup MVP, and the Olympics MVP in the 2024 Summer Olympics. A record 22-time All-Star and 21-time All-NBA selection (including a record 13 First Team selections), he has also made six All-Defensive Teams.
The oldest active player in the NBA, he holds records for the most seasons played with 23, the most games played, the most minutes played, and the most field goals made in league history.
Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, James gained national attention at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School and was heavily touted as a future NBA superstar for his all-around scoring, passing, athleticism and playmaking abilities. A prep-to-pro, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected James with the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft.
He won Rookie of the Year and quickly established himself as one of the league's premier players, leading Cleveland to its first NBA Finals appearance in 2007 and winning the scoring title in 2008. After winning back-to-back MVPs in 2009 and 2010, he joined the Miami Heat as a free agent in 2010, a controversial move announced in the television special The Decision.
With the Heat, James won his first two NBA championships in 2012 and 2013, earning MVP and Finals MVP honors both years. After four seasons in Miami, he returned to Cleveland in 2014, leading the Cavaliers to their first-ever championship in 2016, ending the Cleveland sports curse. He signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, winning another title in 2020 and becoming the first player to win Finals MVP with three different teams.
Off the court, James has earned further wealth and fame from numerous endorsement contracts. He is the first player in NBA history to accumulate $1 billion in earnings as an active player. James has been listed by Forbes as one of the world's ten highest-paid athletes fifteen times. In 2011, 2014 and 2017, he was selected for the Forbes 30 under 30 list in the Sports, Entertainment and All Star categories, and subsequently in the Forbes 30 under 30 Hall of Fame in 2022.
He was among Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2005, 2013, 2017, and 2019—the most selections for a professional athlete.
Early life
LeBron Raymone James was born on December 30, 1984, at Summa Health Akron Campus in Akron, Ohio, to 16-year-old Gloria Marie James. His father, Anthony McClelland, who had an extensive criminal record including arson and theft, was not involved in James's life. During James's childhood, the family often struggled, moving between apartments in the more run‑down neighborhoods of Akron while Gloria sought steady employment.
Realizing that her son would benefit from a more stable environment, she allowed him to live with the family of Frank Walker, a local youth football coach who introduced James to basketball when he was nine.
James began playing organized basketball in the fifth grade. He later competed in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars. The team achieved success locally and nationally, led by James and his friends Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, and Willie McGee. The group called themselves the "Fab Four" and agreed that they would attend high school together.
In a decision that generated local controversy, they enrolled at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School, a private Catholic school with a predominantly white student body.
High school career
Basketball
As a 6-foot-2-inch (1.88 m) tall freshman, James averaged 18 points and 6 rebounds per game for the St. Vincent–St. Mary varsity basketball team. The team, known as The Fighting Irish, went 27–0 en route to the Division III state title, making them the only boys high school team in Ohio to finish the season undefeated.
As a sophomore, James averaged 25.2 points and 7.2 rebounds, along with 5.8 assists and 3.8 steals per game. For some home games during the season, St. Vincent–St. Mary played at the University of Akron's 5,492-seat Rhodes Arena to satisfy ticket demand from alumni and fans, as well as college and NBA scouts who wanted to see James play.
The Fighting Irish finished the season 26–1 and repeated as state champions. For his outstanding play, James was named Ohio Mr. Basketball and selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team, becoming the first sophomore to achieve either.
In 2001, during the summer before his junior year, James was the subject of a feature article in Slam magazine. Writer Ryan Jones lauded the 16-year-old James, who had grown to 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m), as "[possibly] the best high school basketball player in America right now". During the season, James also appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, becoming the first high school basketball underclassman to do so.
With averages of 29 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 3.3 steals per game, he was again named Ohio Mr. Basketball and selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team, and became the first junior to be named male basketball Gatorade National Player of the Year. St. Vincent–St. Mary finished the year with a 23–4 record, ending their season with a loss in the Division II championship game.
Following the loss, James unsuccessfully petitioned for a change to the NBA's draft eligibility rules in an attempt to enter the 2002 NBA draft. During this time, he used marijuana, which he said was to help cope with the stress that resulted from the constant media attention he was receiving.
During his senior year, James and the Fighting Irish played against several nationally ranked teams, including Oak Hill Academy on December 12, 2002. The game was nationally televised on ESPN2. Time Warner Cable, looking to capitalize on James's popularity, offered St. Vincent–St. Mary's games to Ohio-based subscribers for $7.95 per game on a pay-per-view basis throughout the season, but this ended up not being profitable.
For the year, James averaged 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.4 steals per game, was named Ohio Mr. Basketball and selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team for an unprecedented third consecutive year, and was named Gatorade National Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. He participated in three year-end high school basketball all-star games—the EA Sports Roundball Classic, the Jordan Brand Capital Classic, and the McDonald's All-American Game—losing his National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility and making it official that he would enter the 2003 NBA draft.
James was at the center of several controversies during his senior year. For his 18th birthday, James skirted state amateur bylaws by accepting a Hummer H2 as a gift from his mother, who had secured a loan for the vehicle by utilizing James's future earning power as an NBA player. This prompted an investigation by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) because its guidelines stated that no amateur may accept any gift valued over $100 as a reward for athletic performance.
James was cleared of any wrongdoing because he had accepted the vehicle from a family member and not from an agent or any outside source. Later in the season, James accepted two throwback jerseys worth $845 from an urban clothing store in exchange for posing for pictures, violating OHSAA rules and resulting in his being stripped of his high school sports eligibility.
James appealed the ruling and his penalty was eventually dropped to a two-game suspension, allowing him to play the remainder of the year. The Irish were also forced to forfeit one of their wins, their only official loss that season. In his first game back after the suspension, James scored a career-high 52 points. St. Vincent–St. Mary won the Division II championship, marking their third division title in four years.
Football
As an underclassman, James played wide receiver for St. Vincent–St. Mary's football team. He was recruited by some Division I programs, including Notre Dame. At the end of his second year, James was named first team all-state, and as a junior, he helped lead the Fighting Irish to the state semifinals. James did not play during his senior year because of a wrist injury that he sustained in an AAU basketball game.
Some sports analysts, football critics, high school coaches, as well as former and current professional players have speculated that James could have played in the National Football League (NFL).
Professional career
Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010)
2003–2004: Rookie of the Year
The Cleveland Cavaliers selected James as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft. James chose jersey number 23 in honor of Michael Jordan. In his first regular season game, James scored 25 points in a 106–92 loss to the Sacramento Kings, setting an NBA record for the most points scored by a prep-to-pro player in his debut performance.
At the conclusion of the 2003–04 season, James became the first Cavalier to receive the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. and only the third player in league history to average at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game as a rookie.
2004–2008: Rise to superstardom
In the 2004–05 season, James earned his first NBA All-Star Game selection, contributing 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in a winning effort for the Eastern Conference. Teams took note of his rapid development, and Denver Nuggets coach George Karl told Sports Illustrated: "It's weird talking about a 20-year-old kid being a great player, but he is a great player ...
He's the exception to almost every rule." On March 20, James scored 56 points against the Toronto Raptors, setting Cleveland's new single-game points record. At the end of the season, James was named to his first All-NBA Team. The Cavaliers again failed to make the playoffs, finishing the season 42–40. During the 2006 offseason, James signed a three-year, $60 million contract extension with the Cavaliers, with the option for a fourth year.
At the 2006 All-Star Game, James led the Eastern Conference to victory with 29 points and was named the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (MVP). He finished second in overall NBA MVP Award voting, behind Steve Nash. Under James's leadership, the Cavaliers qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1998. In his postseason debut, James recorded a triple-double in a win over the Washington Wizards.
In Game 3, he made the first game-winning basket of his career, and another in Game 5. Cleveland defeated the Wizards before losing to the Detroit Pistons in the second round.
The Cavaliers finished the 2006–07 season with 50 wins and entered the playoffs as the second seed in the Eastern Conference. In the first two rounds, James led the team to wins over the Wizards and New Jersey Nets, earning them a matchup with the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals. In Game 5, James logged 48 points with nine rebounds and seven assists in a 109–107 double-overtime win.
He scored the last 25 points for the Cavaliers, and performed a game-winning layup with 2.2 seconds left. In 2012, ESPN ranked James's performance as the fourth greatest in modern NBA playoff history. The Cavaliers won the series in six games, granting them their first NBA Finals appearance, which pitted them against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs defeated the Cavaliers in a four-game sweep.
On December 11, 2007, James came off the bench for the first time in his career. He chose to enter the game at the same time as his teammate Anderson Varejão—who had been involved in a pay dispute with Cavaliers management—to prevent fans from booing Varejão. In February of the 2007–08 season, James was named All-Star Game MVP for the second time after a 27-point, eight-rebound, and nine-assist performance.
On March 21, he surpassed Brad Daugherty as the Cavaliers' all-time leading scorer. James's 30 points per game were the highest in the league, marking his first scoring title. Seeded fourth in the East entering the playoffs, the Cavaliers defeated the Wizards, before being eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the next round.
2008–2010: MVP seasons
At the end of the 2008–2009 season, James finished second in the voting for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. He made his first NBA All-Defensive Team, with 23 chase-down blocks and a career-high 93 total blocks. With James's play and the acquisition of All-Star guard Mo Williams, Cleveland went a franchise record 66–16; James became the first Cavalier to win the MVP Award. John Hollinger of ESPN described James's season as "arguably the greatest individual season in history".
In the 2009 playoffs, Cleveland swept the Pistons and the Atlanta Hawks to earn a matchup with the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavaliers lost Game 1, despite James scoring 49 points on 66 percent shooting. In Game 2, James hit a game-winner to tie the series 1–1. Cleveland lost the series in six games; following the loss, James left the court without shaking hands with his opponents, which was viewed as unsportsmanlike by some. James averaged 35.3 points per game during the playoffs.
In February of the 2009–10 season, James was forced into a temporary point guard role following injuries to players in the Cavaliers' backcourt. With James's leadership, Cleveland finished the year with the best record in the league. James shot over 50% on field goals for the first time in his career, and he received his second NBA MVP Award.
To open the playoffs, Cleveland advanced past the Chicago Bulls to earn a matchup with the Celtics in the second round. James was criticized for not playing well in Game 5, shooting only 20 percent on 14 shots and scoring 15 points. The Cavaliers suffered their worst loss in franchise history; at the conclusion, James walked off the court to boos from Cleveland's crowd. The Cavaliers were eliminated from the postseason in Game 6.
Miami Heat (2010–2014)
The Decision
James became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2010. He was contacted by several teams, including the Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, and Cavaliers. On July 8, James announced on a live ESPN special titled The Decision that he would sign with the Heat. The special was broadcast from the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, Connecticut and raised $2.5 million for the organization.
An additional $3.5 million was raised from advertising revenue, and was donated to other charities. The day before the special aired, fellow free agents Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade announced they would sign with Miami. James joined with Bosh and Wade in part so he could shoulder less of the offensive load, and he thought he would have a better chance of winning an NBA championship with the Heat.
Heat president Pat Riley played a major role in convincing James to play on the team with Bosh and Wade. James would be relieved of the burden of scoring, and thought he could be the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double in a season. James, Bosh and Wade were referred to as an NBA superteam.
Upon leaving the Cavaliers, James drew criticism from executives, fans, and current and former players. The Decision was viewed as unnecessary. Many thought the prolonged wait for James's choice was unprofessional, as not even the teams courting him were aware of his decision until moments before the show. Upon learning that James would not be returning to Cleveland, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert published a letter to fans in which he denounced James's actions.
Some angry fans of the team recorded videos of themselves burning his jersey. Former NBA players, including Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, were critical of James, condemning him for forming a superteam with Bosh and Wade in Miami and not trying to win a championship in Cleveland. Some commentators defended James's decision to join Miami by noting the Cavaliers' inability to build strong support around him.
They argued other NBA greats had benefitted from talented teammates. James drew further criticism in an interview with CNN when he claimed race might have been a factor in the fallout from The Decision. The phrase "taking my talents to South Beach" became a punch line for critics. James later expressed regret over his handling of The Decision.
2010–2011: Year of media and fan scrutiny
James signed a 6-year, $110 million contract with the Heat on July 10, 2010. He changed his jersey number to 6, as the number 23 was retired in Miami for Michael Jordan. The Heat threw a welcome party for the "Big Three" at the American Airlines Arena, during which James declared that the Heat would win multiple championships. Outside Miami, the spectacle was badly received, furthering negative perception of James.
Throughout the 2010–11 season, the media and opposing fans treated James as a villain. The Heat struggled to adjust to these new circumstances, going only 9–8 after 17 games. James later admitted the negativity made him play with an angrier demeanor. On December 2, James faced the Cavaliers in Cleveland for the first time since departing.
He scored 38 points and led Miami to victory while being booed every time he touched the ball. The Heat turned their season around and finished as the East's second seed.
In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Heat played the Boston Celtics. In Game 5, James scored the Heat's last 10 points in a series-clinching win. After the buzzer, James knelt in an emotional moment, later telling reporters it was an extremely personal victory for him and the team. The Heat advanced to the Finals, where they lost to the Dallas Mavericks.
James's Finals average of 17.8 points per game was a 9-point drop from the regular season, the largest drop-off in league history. Some analysts and commentators questioned the Heat's offensive hierarchy during the series, arguing that head coach Erik Spoelstra appeared to defer to Dwyane Wade at times rather than centering the offense around James.
2011–2013: Back-to-back championships
The 2011–12 season was delayed by a lockout. During that summer, James worked with Hakeem Olajuwon to improve his post up game. As the start of the season approached, James set a goal for himself to leave behind the "villain role" that he had embraced, and said he was hoping to regain a sense of joy on the court. Miami began the year with a franchise-best 18–6 record, and James was named MVP for the third time.
In the second round of the playoffs, Miami lost Bosh to an abdominal injury and found themselves trailing the Indiana Pacers two games to one. James responded with a 40-point, 18-rebound, and nine-assist outing in Game 4 to even the series. To compensate for Bosh's absence, the Heat embraced a small-ball lineup with James at power forward, which they retained after Bosh's return in the conference finals against the Celtics.
Facing elimination in Game 6, James recorded 45 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Heat to victory in a "career-defining performance". Miami won Game 7 to advance to the Finals, earning them a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In Game 5, James registered a triple-double as the Heat defeated the Thunder for their second-ever championship and James's first.
James was voted Finals MVP with averages of 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. His full postseason run was ranked the second best in modern NBA history.
During January of the 2012–13 season, James became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points. In February, he averaged 29.7 points and 7.8 assists while setting shooting efficiency records. The Heat began a 27-game winning streak, which is the third longest in NBA history, and James's performance was described as a "month for the ages".
Miami finished with a franchise and league best 66–16 record, and James was named MVP for the fourth time, falling one vote shy of becoming the first player to win unanimously.
📚 Source: Wikipedia
