Early life
James was born on December 30, 1984, inHigh school career
Basketball
As a tall freshman, James averaged 21Football
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 conclusion of his second year, he was named first team all-state, and as a junior, he helped lead the Fighting Irish to the state semifinals. He 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, former and current players have speculated that James could have played in theProfessional career
Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010)
2003–2004: Rookie of the Year
James was selected by his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft. In his first regular season game, he scored 25 points against the Sacramento Kings, setting an NBA record for most points scored by a2004–2008: 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. Around the league, teams took note of his rapid development, and2008–2010: MVP seasons
At the conclusion of the 2008–09 season, James finished second inMiami Heat (2010–2014)
''The Decision''
James became an unrestricted2010–2011: Year of media and fan scrutiny
James officially signed with the Heat on July 10, 2010, through a sign-and-trade deal which sent two second- and two first-round draft picks to the Cavaliers and gave the team the option to swap first round picks with the Heat in 2012. As part of the first player-created2011–2013: Back-to-back championships
The 2011–12 season was delayed by a lockout, and during that extended summer, James worked with2013–2014: Final season in Miami
On March 3 of the 2013–14 NBA season, 2013–14 season, James scored a career-high and franchise-record 61 points in a game against the 2013–14 Charlotte Bobcats season, Charlotte Bobcats. Throughout the year, he was one of the few staples for a Heat roster that used 20 different starting lineups due to injuries, finishing with averages of 27.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game on 56.7 percent shooting. In the second round of 2014 NBA playoffs, the playoffs, he tied a career postseason-high by scoring 49 points in Game 4 against the 2013–14 Brooklyn Nets season, Brooklyn Nets. In the next round, Miami defeated the 2013–14 Indiana Pacers season, Pacers to earn their fourth consecutive Finals berth, becoming one of only four teams in NBA history to do so. In Game 1 of 2014 NBA Finals, the Finals, James missed most of the fourth quarter because of leg cramps, helping the 2013–14 San Antonio Spurs season, Spurs take an early series lead. In Game 2, he led the Heat to a series-tying victory with 35 points on a 64 percent shooting rate. San Antonio eventually eliminated the Heat in five games, ending Miami's quest for a three-peat. For the Finals, James averaged 28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game.Return to the Cavaliers (2014–2018)
On June 25, 2014, James opted out of his contract with the Heat, and on July 1, he officially became an unrestricted free agent. On July 11, he revealed via a first-person essay in ''Sports Illustrated'' that he intended to return to the Cavaliers. In contrast to ''The Decision'', his announcement to return to Cleveland was well received. On July 12, he officially signed with the team, who had compiled a league-worst 97–215 record in the four seasons following his departure. A month after James's signing, the Cavaliers acquired Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves, forming a new star trio along with Kyrie Irving.2014–2016: Ending Cleveland's championship drought
In January of the 2014–15 NBA season, 2014–15 season, James missed two weeks due to left knee and lower back strains, which at the time represented the longest stretch of missed games in his career. In total, he played a career-low 69 games and his final averages were 25.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. In the second round of 2015 NBA playoffs, the playoffs, he hit a baseline jumper at the buzzer to give Cleveland a 2–2 series tie with the 2014–15 Chicago Bulls season, Bulls. In the Conference Finals, the Cavaliers defeated the 2014–15 Atlanta Hawks season, Hawks to advance to 2015 NBA Finals, the Finals, making James the first player since the 1960s to play in five consecutive Finals. For most of the Finals against the 2014–15 Golden State Warriors season, Golden State Warriors, Irving and Love were sidelined due to injury, giving James more offensive responsibilities. Behind his leadership, the Cavaliers opened the series with a 2–1 lead before being eliminated in six games. Despite the loss, he received serious consideration for the Finals MVP Award, averaging 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game for the championship round. During the 2015–16 NBA season, 2015–16 season, James was criticized for his role in several off-court controversies, including the midseason firing of Cavaliers' coach David Blatt. Despite these distractions, Cleveland finished the year with 57 wins and the best record in the East. James's final averages were 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game on 52 percent shooting. In 2016 NBA playoffs, the playoffs, the Cavaliers advanced comfortably to 2016 NBA Finals, the Finals, losing only two games en route to a rematch with the 2015–16 Golden State Warriors season, Warriors, who were coming off a record-setting 73-win season. To begin the series, Cleveland fell behind 3–1, including two blowout losses. James responded by registering back-to-back 41-point games in Games 5 and 6, leading the Cavaliers to two consecutive wins to stave off elimination. In Game 7, he posted a triple-double and made a number of key plays, including "The Block (basketball), The Block" on Andre Iguodala, as Cleveland emerged victorious, winning the city's first professional sports title in 52 years and becoming the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3–1 series deficit in the Finals. James became just the third player to record a triple-double in an NBA Finals Game 7, and behind series averages of 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 2.6 steals per game, he also became the first player in league history to lead both teams in all five statistical categories for a playoff round, culminating in a unanimous Finals MVP selection.2016–2018: End of second stint in Cleveland
The 2016–17 NBA season, 2016–17 season was marred by injuries and unexpected losses for the Cavaliers; James later described it as one of the "strangest" years of his career. Following a January defeat to the 2016–17 New Orleans Pelicans season, New Orleans Pelicans, he publicly criticized Cleveland's front office for constructing a team that he felt was too "top heavy", for which he received countercriticism. The Cavaliers finished the season as the East's second seed, with James averaging 26.4 points and career highs in rebounds (8.6), assists (8.7), and turnovers (4.1) per game. In Game 3 of the first round of 2017 NBA playoffs, the playoffs, he registered 41 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists against the 2016–17 Indiana Pacers season, Pacers, leading Cleveland to a comeback victory after trailing by 25 points at halftime, representing the largest halftime deficit overcome in NBA playoff history. In Game 5 of the Conference Finals against the 2016–17 Boston Celtics season, Celtics, James scored 35 points and surpassed Michael Jordan as the league's all-time postseason scoring leader. The Cavaliers won the game and the series, advancing to 2017 NBA Finals, the Finals for the third consecutive time against the 2016–17 Golden State Warriors season, Warriors, who had signed James's rival Kevin Durant during the off-season. Behind averages of 33.6 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists per game, James became the first player to average a triple-double in the Finals, but Cleveland was defeated in five games. Prior to the start of the 2017–18 NBA season, 2017–18 season, the Cavaliers overhauled their roster by trading Kyrie Irving to the 2017–18 Boston Celtics season, Celtics, who requested a trade in part because he no longer wanted to play with James. After a slow start to the year, Cleveland rebounded by winning 18 of 19 games in December. Their turnaround began with a victory over the 2017–18 Washington Wizards season, Wizards on November 3 where James scored 57 points, which represented the second-highest point total of his career and tied a franchise record. In January, the Cavaliers had a losing record, and James was criticized for his lackluster effort. The next month, James won his third All-Star Game MVP Award, after posting 29 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and several key plays to help Team LeBron win over Team Curry. Following another round of trades in February, Cleveland returned to form and James reached a number of historical milestones; on March 30, he set an NBA record with 867 straight games scoring in double digits. James eventually finished the season with averages of 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 4.2 turnovers per game. In 2018 NBA playoffs, the playoffs, James guided the Cavaliers to another Finals rematch with the 2017–18 Golden State Warriors season, Warriors. Along the way, he had some of the most memorable moments of his career, including a game-winning shot against the 2017–18 Indiana Pacers season, Pacers and another against the 2017–18 Toronto Raptors season, Raptors. In the first game of 2018 NBA Finals, the Finals, James scored a playoff career-high 51 points, but Cleveland was defeated in overtime. Following the defeat, James injured his hand after punching a wall in the locker room, which hindered his effectiveness for the remainder of the series. The Cavaliers lost the series in four games, with James averaging 34 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 10 assists per game for the Finals.Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present)
2018–2019: Injury and playoff miss
On June 29, 2018, James opted out of his contract with the Cavaliers and became an unrestricted free agent. On July 1, his management company, Klutch Sports, announced that he would sign with the Los Angeles Lakers; the deal was officially completed on July 9. In an interview with ''Sports Illustrated'', James's agent Rich Paul explained: "In 2010, when he went to Miami, it was about championships. In 2014, when he went back to Cleveland, it was about delivering on a promise. In 2018, it was just about doing what he wants to do." Reaction to the move was more positive than his original departure from the Cavaliers, albeit still mixed, as some onlookers felt that Los Angeles was not his optimal destination. The Lakers expected James to immediately transform them into a championship contender after having missed the playoffs since 2014 and not appearing in the Finals since 2010. Following his signing, the team rounded out their roster with a controversial collection of playmakers and veterans. To begin the 2018–19 NBA season, 2018–19 season, they struggled to find effective lineups and recorded only two wins through their first seven games. In November, they began a turnaround, which included two of James's strongest performances of the season. On November 14, he registered 44 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in a victory against the 2018–19 Portland Trail Blazers season, Portland Trail Blazers. On November 18, he scored a season-high 51 points in a win over the 2018–19 Miami Heat season, Heat. After blowing out the 2018–19 Golden State Warriors season, Warriors on Christmas Day, Los Angeles improved their record to 20–14, but James suffered a groin injury, the first major injury of his career. He missed a then career-high 17 consecutive games, and the Lakers fell out of playoff contention without him. The team was unable to recover and failed to qualify for the postseason, marking the first time that James missed the playoffs since 2005. In March, the Lakers announced that James would begin a minutes restriction, and he was later officially ruled out for the remainder of the season. James's final averages were 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. Despite his inconsistent campaign, James was named to the 2018–19 NBA season#Awards, All-NBA Third Team, marking the first time in twelve years that he did not make the All-NBA First Team.2019–2020: Fourth NBA championship
During the offseason, the Lakers hired Frank Vogel as their new head coach, and traded the majority of their young core to the 2019–20 New Orleans Pelicans season, Pelicans for superstar big man Anthony Davis. James immediately embraced Los Angeles's much-improved roster by transforming his playing style, moving to full-time point guard, and competing with a more consistent defensive effort. Behind James's leadership, the Lakers opened the 2019–20 Los Angeles Lakers season, 2019–20 season with a 17–2 record, matching the best start in franchise history. On January 25, James passed team legend Kobe Bryant for third on the all-time regular season scoring list, the day before Bryant's death in 2020 Calabasas helicopter crash, a helicopter crash. In early March, before the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, James led the Lakers to a victory over the 2019–20 Milwaukee Bucks season, Bucks in a matchup of conference leaders, followed by a streak-breaking win against the 2019-20 Los Angeles Clippers season, Clippers. Regular season play resumed in July and concluded in August within the confined 2020 NBA Bubble, NBA Bubble, where James ended the regular season as the league leader in assists for the first time in his career, averaging 10.2 assists per game. James earned a record 16th All-NBA Team selection as part of the First Team, extending his record First Team selections to 13. The Lakers entered 2020 NBA playoffs, the playoffs as the number one seed in the West and advanced to 2020 NBA Finals, the Finals convincingly, with only three total losses along the way. In Game 5 of the Conference Finals against the 2019–20 Denver Nuggets season, Nuggets, James helped clinch the conference championship by scoring a game-high 38 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter. In 2020 NBA Finals, the Finals, James and his teammates found themselves matched up with his former team, the 2019–20 Miami Heat season, Heat, and quickly took control of the series with a 2–0 lead. In Game 5, James had his best statistical performance of the Finals with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists in a memorable duel with Miami's Jimmy Butler, but Los Angeles was ultimately defeated in a three-point game. The Lakers finally eliminated the Heat in Game 6, which earned James, who averaged 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game during the series, his fourth NBA championship and fourth Finals MVP award. At 35 years and 287 days old, he became the second-oldest player in league history to win the award, and the only player in NBA history to win the award with three different franchises. James and teammate Danny Green (basketball), Danny Green also became the third and fourth players in NBA history to win at least one championship with three different teams each.2020–2021: Back-to-back chase
The 2020–21 NBA season, 2020–21 season, reduced to 72 games for each team and starting on December 22, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, began after the shortest offseason in NBA history with a 116–109 loss to the 2020–21 Los Angeles Clippers season, Clippers. On December 31, 2020, James became the first player in NBA history to score 10 points or more in 1,000 consecutive games in a 121–107 win against the 2020–21 San Antonio Spurs season, Spurs. In a 109–98 loss to the 2020–21 Brooklyn Nets season, Nets on February 18, James became the third player in NBA history with 35,000 career points, joining Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone; at 36 years and 50 days, he was the youngest player to reach the milestone. On March 20, James sprained his ankle against the 2020–21 Atlanta Hawks season, Hawks, but he was able to hit a three-point shot afterwards to keep his 10-points streak alive before exiting the game. By March, the Lakers were No. 2, two games behind the 2020–21 Utah Jazz season, Jazz, but they went 14–16 without Davis and 6–10 without James, falling to No. 5. James returned on April 30 after missing 20 games, the longest absence of his career. In May, James was sidelined again after leaving a game against the 2020–21 Toronto Raptors season, Raptors, but he returned for the final two games, and finished the season with averages of 25.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.8 assists on 51.3 percent shooting in 45 out of 72 games; this was his 17th consecutive season averaging at least 25 points per game, the most in NBA history. In an injury-laden season, the Lakers ended with a 42–30 record, finishing No. 7 due to tiebreakers and facing the No. 8-seed 2020–21 Golden State Warriors season, Warriors in the 2021 NBA Play-in Tournament, play-in tournament. The Lakers won 103–100 after James scored the go-ahead, three-point shot in the final minute, posting a triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, along with 2 steals and 1 block. His shot before the shot clock buzzer was his longest basket of the season as well as his longest go-ahead shot in the closing three minutes of a game in his career. In the first round of 2021 NBA playoffs, the playoffs, the Lakers faced the No. 2 2020–21 Phoenix Suns season, Suns, the first time in James's career that he did not have home court advantage in the opening series. They were up 2–1 before Davis suffered a strained groin in Game 4, in which James finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-for-21 shooting, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. The Lakers lost to the Suns in six games, making it the first time James lost in the first round in his career. He finished the series averaging 23.3 points, his fourth-lowest scoring output for a series over his career and his lowest mark since averaging 22.8 in the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals. He made his 17th consecutive All-NBA Team selection, extending the record for most selections in NBA history, being named for the third time to the All-NBA Second Team.2021–2022: 37,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists
For the 2021–22 NBA season, 2021–22 season, James was joined by Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook. In a game against the 2021–22 Detroit Pistons season, Pistons on November 21, James was ejected in the third quarter after getting into a scuffle with Isaiah Stewart during the 121–116 win; it was the second time in his career that he was ejected from a game, and he was suspended for one game due to his actions. In his next 16 games, James averaged 30.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.4 blocks on 54 percent shooting, also achieving his 100th triple-double, while becoming the third player in NBA history to surpass 36,000 career points; during this period, he played 35 percent of his minutes at Center (basketball), center. From December 19 to February 26, 2022, playing 23 out of 27 games, he had a streak of 23 consecutive 25-point games. In December, James became the second player in NBA history (after Michael Jordan) to post 40 points and zero turnovers at age 35 or older. In January, James met the minimum criteria for points per game by playing at least 70 percent of his team's games, averaging 28.6 points, and became the oldest player to average 25+ points per game, having already been the youngest to do so, as he averaged 27.6 points per game in his sophomore season at 20 years old. He also became the oldest player in NBA history to record at least 25 points in ten straight games, doing so at 37 years old. By January 20, James became the fifth player in NBA history to record at least 30,000 career points and 10,000 career rebounds; he is the first player to record at least 30,000 career points, 10,000 career rebounds, and 9,000 career assists. In the same period, he surpassed Oscar Robertson for 4th all-time free throws made, and Alvin Robertson for 10th all-time in career steals. In February, James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most points scored in both the regular season and playoffs; by March, he passed Karl Malone for second in the all-time minutes and regular season scoring lists. At the 2022 NBA All-Star Game held in Cleveland, James was celebrated among the other 75 players for the2022–23 season
On August 18, 2022, James re-signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-year, $97.1M deal. The contract extension made James the highest-paid athlete in NBA history at $528.9M, surpassingNational team career
James made his debut for the United States men's national basketball team, United States national team at the 2004 United States men's Olympic basketball team, 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. He spent the Games mostly on the bench, averaging 14.6 minutes per game with 5.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in eight games. Team USA finished the competition with a bronze medal, becoming the first U.S. basketball team to return home without a gold medal since adding active NBA players to their lineup. James felt his limited playing time was a "lowlight" and believed he was not given "a fair opportunity to play"; his attitude during the Olympics was described as "disrespectful" by columnist Adrian Wojnarowski. At the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, James took on a greater role for Team USA, averaging 13.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game as co-captain. The team finished the tournament with an 8–1 record, winning another bronze medal. James's behavior was again questioned, this time by teammate Bruce Bowen, who confronted James during tryouts regarding his treatment of staff members. Before naming James to the 2008 United States men's Olympic basketball team, 2008 Olympic team, Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski gave James an ultimatum to improve his attitude, and he heeded their advice. At the FIBA Americas Championship 2007, he averaged 18.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, including a 31-point performance against Argentina in the championship game, the most ever by an American in an Olympic qualifier. Team USA went 10–0, winning the gold medal and qualifying for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. James credited the team's attitude and experience for their improvement, saying: "I don't think we understood what it meant to put on a USA uniform and all the people that we were representing in 2004. We definitely know that now." At the Olympics, Team USA went unbeaten, winning their first gold medal since 2000 Olympics, 2000. In the final game, James turned in 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists against Spain. James did not play at the 2010 United States men's FIBA World Championship team, 2010 FIBA World Championship but rejoined Team USA for the 2012 United States men's Olympic basketball team, 2012 Olympics in London, England. He became the leader of the team, with Bryant, who would soon be 34, stepping back. James facilitated the offense from the post and perimeter, called the defensive sets, and provided scoring when needed. During a game against Australia men's national basketball team, Australia, he recorded the first triple-double in U.S. Olympic basketball history with 11 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists. Team USA went on to win their second straight gold medal, again defeating Spain in the final game. James contributed 19 points in the win, becoming the all-time leading scorer in U.S. men's basketball history. He also joined Michael Jordan as the only players to win an NBA MVP award, NBA championship, NBA Finals MVP, and Olympic gold medal in the same year. Afterwards, Krzyzewski said: "[James] is the best player, he is the best leader and he is as smart as anybody playing the game right now."Player profile
Standing tall and weighing , James has played the majority of his career at the small forward and power forward positions, but he has also been deployed at the other positions when necessary. His playing style, which is athletic and versatile, has drawn comparisons to Basketball Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan. Through the 2021–22 season, James's career averages are 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. Throughout the 2010s, he was usually ranked as the best player in the NBA each season by ESPN and ''Sports Illustrated''.Offense
As an 18-year-old rookie, James led the Cavaliers in scoring. He holds numerous "youngest to" distinctions, including being the youngest player to score 30,000 career points. During his first stint in Cleveland, he was primarily used as an on-ball point forward, and although his shooting tendencies were perimeter-oriented, he established himself as one of the best Slasher (basketball), slashers and finishers in basketball. His combination of speed, quickness, and size often created matchup problems for opposing teams because he was capable of blowing by larger defenders and overpowering smaller ones. These qualities became more apparent in transition, where he developed a reputation for grabbing defensive rebounds and then beating the defense downcourt for highlight reel baskets. Around this time, James was frequently criticized for not having a reliable Jump shot (basketball), jump shot or post game. Teams would try to exploit these weaknesses by giving him space in the half court and forcing him to settle for three-pointers and long two-pointers, a strategy famously used by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich in the 2007 Finals, where James converted on only 36 percent of his field goals in four games. In Miami, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra changed James's role to a more unconventional one. James spent more time in the post and improved his shot selection and accuracy on jump shots. He also learned how to work as an off-ball cutter in the Heat's "pass-happy" offense. Behind these improvements, James's overall scoring efficiency rose to historically great levels. During this time, ESPN's Tom Haberstroh called James's free-throw shooting his biggest weakness, describing it as "average". Upon returning to the Cavaliers, James began to experience subtle age-related declines in productivity, posting his lowest scoring averages since his rookie season in 2015 and 2016. His shooting also temporarily regressed, and he briefly ranked as the NBA's worst high-volume shooter from outside the paint. Despite these changes, he remained an elite offensive player who beat defenses with body control, strength, and varying attacking speeds. For most of his career, James has controlled the offense as the primary ball handler on his team. His playmaking ability is generally considered one of his premier skills, and some analysts rank him among the greatest passers in NBA history. By exploiting his size, vision, and the attention he garners from opposing defenses, James creates easy points for his teammates with accurate assists. He executes unconventional passes, including after leaving his feet and through defensive traffic. His uncanny tendency to find the open man has helped force NBA teams to incorporate some elements of Zone defense, zone into their schemes to better cover the weak side of the court and prevent James from passing to open shooters. Early in James's career, he was criticized for overpassing in pressure situations, in particular for passing instead of shooting in the waning seconds of close games; however, as his career progressed, James's clutch performance was viewed more favorably.Defense
At the beginning of James's NBA career, he was considered a poor defensive player, but he improved steadily through the years. In 2009, he became proficient at the chase-down block, which involves coming in from behind the opposition in transition to block the shot. In Miami, he developed into a more versatile defensive player, and the Heat relied on him to guard all five positions. Along with Shane Battier and Dwyane Wade, Miami used James in an ultra-aggressive defensive scheme, with James cheating off the ball to help out inside or get into rebounding position. Beginning in 2014, some analysts reported a regression in his defensive impact, stemming from a lack of effort and expected age-related declines. During his second stint in Cleveland, his defense progressively declined. After missed drives on offense, he often dawdled back on defense while complaining to the referees; he provided less help off the ball, and was less aggressive in switch (basketball), switching. James himself admitted to taking plays off at times, referring to this approach as "chill mode". He eventually developed a reputation for raising his defensive level in the playoffs, which some analysts referred to as "Playoff LeBron".Legacy
James left high school as one of the most Media circus, hyped prospects in NBA history. Upon entering the NBA, he made an immediate impact and was voted Rookie of the Year in his debut season. As of June 2022, he has been named to 18 All-NBA Teams, including 13 times to the First Team, which are both NBA records. His four MVP awards are matched only by Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, and Bill Russell; James and Russell are the only players to win four MVP awards in a five-year span. James has also won four Finals MVP Awards, which is the second-most all-time, and earned All-Defensive honors every season from 2009 to 2014. While James has never won the Defensive Player of the Year Award, he has finished second in the voting twice and lists it as one of his main goals. His teams have appeared in the Finals ten times and won four championships; his ten Finals appearances are tied for third all-time. Some analysts have criticized him for not having a better Finals record, while others have countered that James usually performed well but his team was defeated by superior competition. On the basis of his career longevity and on-court performances, sports publications have consistently included James in rankings of the best basketball players in history, and he was named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Decade for the 2010s. In addition to praising James's on-court accomplishments, analysts have also noted James's influence on player empowerment throughout the NBA, which stemmed from his willingness to change teams during free agency. Ben Golliver of ''The Washington Post'' opined that James's move to the Heat in 2010 "defined a decade of player movement", and that he "fundamentally flipped the power balance between stars and their organizations." James's fellow players have also remarked on his influence, such as Warriors forward Draymond Green, who reflected: "We've taken control of our destiny. And I think a lot of people hate that ... . I think the doors that he's opened for athletes and especially basketball players is his biggest accomplishment." James is also discussed within the context of being the greatest basketball player of all-time, which has resulted in frequent comparisons to Michael Jordan. In a 2016 interview with ''Sports Illustrated'', James acknowledged that his motivation was surpassing Jordan as the greatest. In February 2018, The Ringer (website), The Ringer spent an entire week devoted to both players, with Bill Simmons ultimately concluding that Jordan was still ahead. In polls, James has ranked second behind Jordan. The results strongly correlate with age, with older voters more commonly choosing Jordan. Davis ''et al.'' of ''Business Insider'' stated: "The data would suggest that younger, more-engaged NBA fans lean toward James, as he's still playing. Older generations who watched Jordan play and tune in less today lean toward Jordan." Referring to James as the best challenger to Jordan's status as the greatest basketball player of all time, Sam Quinn of CBS Sports stated that "the margin for error where Jordan is involved is overwhelmingly slim" and that "in the rings-obsessed basketball discourse", Jordan having more titles and an "unblemished Finals record holds significant weight". James has voiced his desire to play basketball into his forties, potentially alongside or against his sons Bronny and Bryce.Off the court
Personal life
James married his high school sweetheart Savannah James on September 14, 2013, in San Diego, California. They have three children: two sons—Bronny James, Bronny and Bryce—and daughter Zhuri. During his stint with the Heat, James resided in Coconut Grove, where he bought a $9 million three-story mansion overlooking Biscayne Bay. In November 2015, James bought a 9,350 square-foot (870 m2) East Coast-style mansion in Brentwood, Los Angeles for about $21 million. James owns another home in Brentwood, which he purchased for $23 million in December 2017. James invests heavily in his health, reportedly having spent $1.5 million a year to pay for personal chefs and athletic trainers, as well as physical therapies of recovery. He has a heavy exercise regimen and dietary habits that some consider atypical for a top athlete. Tristan Thompson has stated that James eats desserts with every meal, and Kyle Korver says James's fitness routine is unrivaled. James drinks wine every night, believing that it is good for his heart. In January 2009, doctors at the Cleveland Clinic discovered a growth in the right side of James's jaw. Biopsy results showed that James developed a benign jaw tumor, specifically in his parotid gland, which required a five-hour surgery to remove on June 2 after the end of the Cavaliers' run in the 2009 playoffs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, James received a COVID-19 vaccine. James's best friends in the NBA are Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and former Heat teammate Dwyane Wade. The trio have been referred to as the Banana Boat Team, "banana boat crew". During an excursion to the Bahamas, James rescued Anthony from the water when Anthony was carried away from the boat by the current. During an Instagram Live session, Anthony later recounted: "He saved my life". When asked about how much danger Anthony was in prior to the rescue, James responded: "I don't really know what to say, to be honest. I'm just happy he's still here, obviously."Public image
By 2015, James was considered by many people, including his fellow NBA players, to be the "face of the NBA". His opinions have yielded significant influence on people who make important league decisions; in 2014, he asked commissioner Adam Silver to increase the duration of the All-Star break, and the request was granted the following season. On February 13, 2015, James was elected the first vice president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA). Throughout his career, James has been ranked by ''Forbes'' as one of the world's most influential athletes, and in 2017, he was listed by ''Time (magazine), Time'' as one of the Time 100, 100 most influential people in the world. During his first stint with the Cavaliers, he was adored by local fans, and Sherwin-Williams displayed a giant Nike-produced banner of James on its world headquarters. Despite their affection for James, Cleveland fans and critics were frequently annoyed when he sported a Yankees hat when he attended Cleveland Indians baseball games versus the New York Yankees. Following his actions during the 2010 free agency period and ''The Decision'', he was listed as one of most disliked athletes in the United States. By 2013, his image had mostly recovered and he was reported by ESPN as the most popular player in the NBA for the second time in his career. In 2014, he was named the most popular male athlete in America by the Harris Poll. He has led the league in jersey sales six times. Sports memorabilia, Memorabilia associated with James is highly sought after; two of James's rookie cards are among the most expensive basketball cards ever sold at auction, and one of those cards also briefly held the record for the List of most expensive sports cards, most expensive modern-day sports card when it sold for $1.8 million at auction in July 2020. A Mike Trout rookie card broke the record for a modern-day card the following month. All jerseys worn in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game were auctioned by the NBA and NBPA to raise funds for charity; James's jersey sold for $630,000, setting a record for a modern-day sports jersey. In March 2008, James became the first black man, as well as the third man overall after Richard Gere and George Clooney, to appear on the cover of ''Vogue (magazine), Vogue'', when he posed with Gisele Bündchen. In response, ESPN columnist Jemele Hill considered the cover offensive and "memorable for the wrong reasons", describing the demeanor of James and his holding Bündchen as a reference to classic imagery of the movie monster King Kong, a dark savage capturing his fair-skinned love interest.Activism
James is an active supporter of non-profit organizations, including After-School All-Stars, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Children's Defense Fund. He also has his own charity foundation, the LeBron James Family Foundation, which is based in Akron. Since 2005, the foundation has held an annual bike-a-thon to raise money for various causes. In 2015, James announced a partnership with the University of Akron to provide scholarships for as many as 2,300 children beginning in 2021. In 2016, he donated $2.5 million to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture to support an exhibit on Muhammad Ali. In 2017, he received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award from the NBA for his "outstanding service and dedication to the community." In November of that same year, the Akron School Board approved the I Promise School, a public elementary school created in a partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation to help struggling elementary school students stay in school. James later reflected that it was his most important professional accomplishment of his life. The school officially opened on July 30, 2018. Throughout his career, James has taken stances on controversial issues. On several occasions, he mentioned a feeling of obligation to effect change using his status. Those include the War in Darfur, the killing of Trayvon Martin, the now-former NBA owner Donald Sterling's racist comments in 2014, the Shooting of Michael Brown, Michael Brown verdict, and the death of Eric Garner. Following a Racism in the United States, racist incident at his Los Angeles home in 2017, James expressed that "being black in America is tough. We got a long way to go for us as a society and for us as African Americans until we feel equal in America." Later on that year, in the aftermath of the Unite the Right rally, James questioned the "Make America Great Again" slogan and said: "It's sad what's going on in Charlottesville. Is this the direction our country is heading? Make America Great Again huh? Our youth deserve better!!" James also called Trump a "bum" after the president rescinded a White House invitation to Stephen Curry. During a 2018 interview with CNN journalist Don Lemon, James accused Trump of attempting to divide the country with sports, suggesting that "sports has never been something that divides people it's always been something that brings someone together." He declared that he would "never sit across from him. I'd sit across from Barack Obama, Barack [Obama] though." In response, Trump tweeted: "LeBron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made LeBron look smart, which isn't easy to do." James has supported Colin Kaepernick in the aftermath of his participation in the U.S. national anthem kneeling protests, saying that he was being blackballed from a new contract in theAkron endeavors
Public and charitable initiatives undertaken by James in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, under the LeBron James Family Foundation banner: * I Promise School * I Promise Institute at the University of Akron * I Promise Village (housing complex) * House Three-Thirty (community center/retail plaza) * I Promise Health Quarters (medical center)Media figure and business interests
Endorsements
James has signed numerous endorsement contracts; some of the companies that he has done business with are Audemars Piguet, Beats Electronics, Beats by Dre, Coca-Cola, Dunkin' Brands, McDonald's, Nike, Inc., Nike, and State Farm. Coming out of high school, he was the target of a three-way bidding war among Nike, Reebok, and Adidas, eventually signing with Nike for approximately $90 million. His signature shoes have performed well for Nike. In 2011, Fenway Sports Group became the sole global marketer of his rights, and as part of the deal, he was granted a minority stake in the English Premier League football club Liverpool F.C., Liverpool, who he has claimed his support for. As a result of James's endorsement money and NBA salary, he has been listed as one of the world's highest-paid athletes. In 2013, he surpassed Bryant as the highest paid basketball player in the world, with earnings of $56.5 million. In 2014, James realized a profit of more than $30 million as part of Apple Inc., Apple's acquisition of Beats Electronics; he had originally struck a deal to get a small stake in the company at its inception in exchange for promoting its headphones. In 2015, he was ranked the sixth highest earning sportsperson, and third highest in 2016 (after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi). James has stated that he would like to own an NBA team in the future, albeit in a hands-off capacity. In 2011, James co-founded the designer retail store UNKNWN in Miami, Florida.Entertainment
James and comedian Jimmy Kimmel co-hosted the 2007 ESPY Awards. In other comedic pursuits, he hosted the 33rd-season premiere of ''Investments
In 2012, James, Carter and Paul Wachter made an investment of less than $1 million in the Pasadena, California, Pasadena-based Fast casual restaurant, fast casual chain Blaze Pizza; their investment had grown to $25 million by 2017. James later became a spokesman for the company and began appearing in advertisements after ending his contract with McDonald's. During the 2019 off-season, James filed for a trademark through a shell company on the term "Taco Tuesday" for use in downloadable audio/visual works, podcasts, social media, online marketing, and entertainment services. This was related to James's use of the term on Instagram for his family's taco dinners. The request was denied by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, stating that Taco Tuesday was "a commonplace term, message or expression widely used by a variety of sources that merely conveys an ordinary, familiar, well-recognized concept or sentiment." In November 2020, James became an angel investor of the tequila and mezcal company Lobos 1707. After personal frustration with comments on the Black Lives Matter movement made by Republican Party (United States), Republican U.S. senator Kelly Loeffler, who at the time was the owner of the Women's National Basketball Association, WNBA's Atlanta Dream, James assisted Dream player Renee Montgomery in her ultimately successful bid to buy the team in March 2021. Also in 2021, James joined Fenway Sports Group as a partner, making him a part-owner of the Boston Red Sox, New England Sports Network, RFK Racing, and Liverpool F.C., the latter of which he already owned a two-percent share in individually. The investment made James and Carter the company's first black partners. James has expressed his interest in owning an NBA team once he finishes playing basketball, specifically a team located in Las Vegas, Nevada, either through Expansion of the National Basketball Association, expansion or relocation. In August 2022, James and Drake (musician), Drake became part owners of the Italian football club A.C. Milan.Professional contracts
James is represented by Sports agent, agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. His first agent was Aaron Goodwin, whom he left in 2005 for Leon Rose. Rose joined Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in 2007, and he worked with fellow CAA agent Henry Thomas, who represented Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, to bring James to Miami in 2010. James left CAA for Paul in 2012. James, Paul, Maverick Carter, and Randy Mims—all childhood friends—formed agent and sports-marketing company LRMR after James left Goodwin. LRMR handles James's marketing, including the marketing of ''The Decision'', for which it was criticized. Throughout his career, James has taken a unique approach to his NBA contracts, usually opting to sign shorter-term deals in order to maximize his earnings potential and flexibility; in 2006, he and the Cavaliers negotiated a three-year, $60 million contract extension instead of the four-year maximum as it allotted him the option of seeking a new contract worth more money as an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season. This move ultimately allowed James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh to sign together with the Heat. During the 2011 NBA lockout, James received contract offers to play professional football from the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks, which he gave serious consideration to and even began training with it in mind. During his second stint in Cleveland, based on a negotiation strategy devised by NBA agent Mark Termini, who worked with Paul and specialized in contract negotiation and construction, he began opting out, or re-signing, on new contracts after each season in order to take advantage of higher salaries resulting from the NBA's rising salary cap. In 2016, he signed with the Cavaliers on a three-year deal, becoming the highest-paid player in the league for the first time in his career.NBA career statistics
Regular season
, - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2003–04 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 79, , 79, , 39.5, , .417, , .290, , .754, , 5.5, , 5.9, , 1.6, , .7, , 20.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2004–05 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 80, , 80, , style="background:#cfecec;", 42.4*, , .472, , .351, , .750, , 7.4, , 7.2, , 2.2, , .7, , 27.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2005–06 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 79, , 79, , 42.5, , .480, , .335, , .738, , 7.0, , 6.6, , 1.6, , .8, , 31.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 78, , 78, , 40.9, , .476, , .319, , .698, , 6.7, , 6.0, , 1.6, , .7, , 27.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2007–08 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 75, , 74, , 40.4, , .484, , .315, , .712, , 7.9, , 7.2, , 1.8, , 1.1, , style="background:#cfecec;", 30.0* , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2008–09 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 81, , 81, , 37.7, , .489, , .344, , .780, , 7.6, , 7.2, , 1.7, , 1.1, , 28.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2009–10 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 76, , 76, , 39.0, , .503, , .333, , .767, , 7.3, , 8.6, , 1.6, , 1.0, , 29.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2010–11 Miami Heat season, Miami , 79, , 79, , 38.8, , .510, , .330, , .759, , 7.5, , 7.0, , 1.6, , .6, , 26.7 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", † , style="text-align:left;", 2011–12 Miami Heat season, Miami , 62, , 62, , 37.5, , .531, , .362, , .771, , 7.9, , 6.2, , 1.9, , .8, , 27.1 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", † , style="text-align:left;", 2012–13 Miami Heat season, Miami , 76, , 76, , 37.9, , .565, , .406, , .753, , 8.0, , 7.3, , 1.7, , .9, , 26.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2013–14 Miami Heat season, Miami , 77, , 77, , 37.7, , .567, , .379, , .750, , 6.9, , 6.4, , 1.6, , .3, , 27.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2014–15 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 69, , 69, , 36.1, , .488, , .354, , .710, , 6.0, , 7.4, , 1.6, , .7, , 25.3 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", † , style="text-align:left;", 2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 76, , 76, , 35.6, , .520, , .309, , .731, , 7.4, , 6.8, , 1.4, , .6, , 25.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2016–17 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 74, , 74, , style="background:#cfecec;", 37.8*, , .548, , .363, , .674, , 8.6, , 8.7, , 1.2, , .6, , 26.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2017–18 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , style="background:#cfecec;", 82*, , style="background:#cfecec;", 82*, , style="background:#cfecec;", 36.9*, , .542, , .367, , .731, , 8.6, , 9.1, , 1.4, , .9, , 27.5 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2018–19 Los Angeles Lakers season, L.A. Lakers , 55, , 55, , 35.2, , .510, , .339, , .665, , 8.5, , 8.3, , 1.3, , .6, , 27.4 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", † , style="text-align:left;", 2019–20 Los Angeles Lakers season, L.A. Lakers , 67, , 67, , 34.6, , .493, , .348, , .693, , 7.8, , style="background:#cfecec;", 10.2*, , 1.2, , .5, , 25.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2020–21 Los Angeles Lakers season, L.A. Lakers , 45, , 45, , 33.4, , .513, , .365, , .698, , 7.7, , 7.8, , 1.1, , .6, , 25.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", 2021–22 Los Angeles Lakers season, L.A. Lakers , 56 , , 56 , , 37.2 , , .524 , , .359 , , .756 , , 8.2 , , 6.2 , , 1.3 , , 1.1 , , 30.3 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 1,366, , 1,365, , 38.2, , .505, , .346, , .734, , 7.5, , 7.4, , 1.6, , .8, , 27.1 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", All-Star , 18, , 18, , 28.2, , .515, , .308, , .725, , 6.0, , 5.8, , 1.2, , .4, , 22.9Playoffs
, - , style="text-align:left;", 2006 NBA playoffs, 2006 , style="text-align:left;", 2005–06 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 13, , 13, , 46.5, , .476, , .333, , .737, , 8.1, , 5.8, , 1.4, , .7, , 30.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2007 NBA playoffs, 2007 , style="text-align:left;", 2006–07 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 20, , 20, , 44.7, , .416, , .280, , .755, , 8.1, , 8.0, , 1.7, , .5, , 25.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2008 NBA playoffs, 2008 , style="text-align:left;", 2007–08 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 13, , 13, , 42.5, , .411, , .257, , .731, , 7.8, , 7.6, , 1.8, , 1.3, , 28.2 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2009 NBA playoffs, 2009 , style="text-align:left;", 2008–09 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 14, , 14, , 41.4, , .510, , .333, , .749, , 9.1, , 7.3, , 1.6, , .9, , 35.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2010 NBA playoffs, 2010 , style="text-align:left;", 2009–10 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 11, , 11, , 41.8, , .502, , .400, , .733, , 9.3, , 7.6, , 1.7, , 1.8, , 29.1 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2011 NBA playoffs, 2011 , style="text-align:left;", 2010–11 Miami Heat season, Miami , 21, , 21, , 43.9, , .466, , .353, , .763, , 8.4, , 5.9, , 1.7, , 1.2, , 23.7 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", 2012 NBA playoffs, 2012† , style="text-align:left;", 2011–12 Miami Heat season, Miami , 23, , 23, , 42.7, , .500, , .259, , .739, , 9.7, , 5.6, , 1.9, , .7, , 30.3 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", 2013 NBA playoffs, 2013† , style="text-align:left;", 2012–13 Miami Heat season, Miami , 23, , 23, , 41.7, , .491, , .375, , .777, , 8.4, , 6.6, , 1.8, , .8, , 25.9 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2014 NBA playoffs, 2014 , style="text-align:left;", 2013–14 Miami Heat season, Miami , 20, , 20, , 38.2, , .565, , .407, , .806, , 7.1, , 4.8, , 1.9, , .6, , 27.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2015 NBA playoffs, 2015 , style="text-align:left;", 2014–15 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 20, , 20, , 42.2, , .417, , .227, , .731, , 11.3, , 8.5, , 1.7, , 1.1, , 30.1 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", 2016 NBA playoffs, 2016† , style="text-align:left;", 2015–16 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 21, , 21, , 39.1, , .525, , .340, , .661, , 9.5, , 7.6, , 2.3, , 1.3, , 26.3 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2017 NBA playoffs, 2017 , style="text-align:left;", 2016–17 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 18, , 18, , 41.3, , .565, , .411, , .698, , 9.1, , 7.8, , 1.9, , 1.3, , 32.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", 2018 NBA playoffs, 2018 , style="text-align:left;", 2017–18 Cleveland Cavaliers season, Cleveland , 22, , 22, , 41.9, , .539, , .342, , .746, , 9.1, , 9.0, , 1.4, , 1.0, , 34.0 , - , style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", 2020 NBA playoffs, 2020† , style="text-align:left;", 2019–20 Los Angeles Lakers season, L.A. Lakers , 21, , 21, , 36.3, , .560, , .370, , .720, , 10.8, , 8.8, , 1.2, , .9, , 27.6 , - , style="text-align:left", 2021 NBA playoffs, 2021 , style="text-align:left;", 2020–21 Los Angeles Lakers season, L.A. Lakers , 6, , 6, , 37.3, , .474, , .375, , .609, , 7.2, , 8.0, , 1.5, , .3, , 23.3 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , bgcolor="EOCEF2", 266, , bgcolor="EOCEF2", 266, , 41.5, , .495, , .337, , .740, , 9.0, , 7.2, , 1.7, , .9, , 28.7Awards and honors
; NBA * 4× NBA champion: , , , * 4× NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player: , , , * 4× NBA Most Valuable Player: , , , * 18× NBA All-Star Game, NBA All-Star: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , * 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP: , , * 18× All-NBA Team, All-NBA selection: ** 13× First team: , , , , , , , , , , , , ** 3× Second team: , , ** 2× Third team: , * 6× NBA All-Defensive Team, NBA All-Defensive selection: ** 5× First Team: , , , , ** Second Team: *Filmography
Film
Television
See also
* Cleveland Cavaliers draft history * List of career achievements by LeBron James * List of first overall NBA draft picks * List of most-followed Instagram accounts * List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders * List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders * List of National Basketball Association career free throw scoring leaders * List of National Basketball Association career games played leaders * List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders * List of National Basketball Association career playoff 3-point scoring leaders * List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders * List of National Basketball Association career playoff blocks leaders * List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders * List of National Basketball Association career playoff minutes leaders * List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders * List of National Basketball Association career playoff steals leaders * List of National Basketball Association career playoff turnovers leaders * List of National Basketball Association career minutes played leaders * List of National Basketball Association career rebounding leaders * List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders * List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders * List of National Basketball Association franchise career scoring leaders * List of National Basketball Association players with most points in a game * List of National Basketball Association season minutes leaders * List of Olympic medalists in basketball * NBA All-Star Game records * NBA post-season records * NBA regular season recordsNotes
References
Further reading
* * *External links
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:James, Lebron LeBron James, 1984 births Living people 2006 FIBA World Championship players 21st-century American male actors A.C. Milan chairmen and investors African-American basketball players African-American billionaires African-American businesspeople African-American film producers African-American investors African-American male actors African-American screenwriters African-American television producers Amateur Athletic Union men's basketball players American film producers American investors American male film actors American male screenwriters American male television actors American male voice actors American men's basketball players American philanthropists American soccer chairmen and investors Basketball players at the 2004 Summer Olympics Basketball players at the 2008 Summer Olympics Basketball players at the 2012 Summer Olympics Basketball players from Akron, Ohio Basketball players from Los Angeles Businesspeople from Akron, Ohio Businesspeople from Los Angeles California Democrats Cleveland Cavaliers draft picks Cleveland Cavaliers players Fenway Sports Group people Film producers from California Film producers from Ohio Illeists Liverpool F.C. chairmen and investors Los Angeles Lakers players Male actors from Akron, Ohio Male actors from California Male actors from Los Angeles McDonald's High School All-Americans Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics Miami Heat players National Basketball Association All-Stars National Basketball Association high school draftees Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in basketball Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball) People from Brentwood, Los Angeles Power forwards (basketball) Screenwriters from California Screenwriters from Ohio Small forwards St. Vincent–St. Mary High School alumni Television producers from California Television producers from Ohio United States men's national basketball team players