How LeBron James built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
LeBron James, nicknamed "King James", is a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers and is considered one of the greatest of all time. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and has won four NBA championships across 10 NBA Finals appearances, including eight consecutive from 2011 to 2018. James also won the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023 with the Lakers and has won three Olympic gold medals playing for the United States.
In 1982, Moses Malone became the first reigning MVP since Moses Malone in 1982 to change teams.
In 1998, before LeBron James, the Cavaliers last qualified for the playoffs.
In 2000, the USA basketball team won a gold medal. This is relevant to the history as the 2008 team win was the first one since 2000.
In 2001, LeBron James, at age 16, was featured in Slam magazine as possibly the best high school basketball player and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, gaining national attention.
On December 12, 2002, a game featuring LeBron James and St. Vincent–St. Mary against Oak Hill Academy was nationally televised on ESPN2, highlighting James' growing popularity.
In 2002, after losing the Division II championship game, LeBron James unsuccessfully petitioned for a change to the NBA's draft eligibility rules in an attempt to enter the 2002 NBA draft.
In May 2003, LeBron James signed a seven-year deal with Nike for approximately $90 million.
In 2003, LeBron James was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers and later won the NBA Rookie of the Year award, marking the beginning of his professional career.
In 2003, LeBron James was selected by his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft.
In 2003, after participating in high school basketball all-star games, LeBron James officially entered the 2003 NBA draft, forgoing his National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility.
On February 28, 2024, James spearheaded a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback by the Lakers to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 116–112, marking the Lakers' biggest comeback since 2003.
At the conclusion of the 2003–2004 season, LeBron James received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, making him the first Cavalier to earn the honor.
In 2004, LeBron James made his debut for the United States national team at the Olympics in Athens, Greece, where Team USA won a bronze medal.
In 2004, LeBron James was part of the USA team. Reflecting on the experience in 2007, he stated that the team did not fully understand the significance of representing the USA in 2004.
In 2004, Shaquille O'Neal had a 20-20 game in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, a feat not repeated by a Lakers player in the postseason until LeBron James in 2023.
In 2004, during the 2004-2005 season, LeBron James earned his first NBA All-Star Game selection, marking his rising prominence in the league.
In 2005, LeBron James left his first agent, Aaron Goodwin, for Leon Rose.
In 2005, at the end of the 2004-2005 season, LeBron James was named to his first All-NBA Team, solidifying his status as one of the league's top players.
Since 2005, the LeBron James Family Foundation (LJFF) has held an annual bike-a-thon to raise money for various causes.
In 2006, LeBron James and the Cavaliers negotiated a three-year, $60 million contract extension, providing him with the flexibility to seek a new contract in 2010.
In 2006, LeBron James played a significant role for Team USA at the FIBA World Championship in Japan, where the team won a bronze medal.
In 2006, LeBron James was named the NBA All-Star Game MVP, and led the Cavaliers to the playoffs for the first time since 1998, where he recorded a triple-double in his postseason debut.
In 2006, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade reportedly discussed their upcoming 2010 free agencies.
In 2006, during the offseason, LeBron James signed a three-year, $60 million contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers, aligning his potential free agency with fellow draft class members.
In the 2006–2007 season, the Cavaliers finished with 50 wins for the second consecutive year and entered the playoffs as the #2-seed in the Eastern Conference.
On December 11, 2007, LeBron James came off the bench for the first time in his career, doing so to support teammate Anderson Varejão and prevent booing from fans.
During the 2007 NBA Finals, LeBron James was criticized for not having a reliable jump shot or post game. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich famously used a strategy to exploit these weaknesses, where James converted on only 36 percent of his field goals in four games.
In 2007, James came off the bench, marking only the second time in his career that he did so.
In 2007, LeBron James averaged 18.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game at the FIBA Americas Championship. He had a 31-point performance against Argentina in the championship game, which was 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 2007, LeBron James co-hosted the ESPY Awards with comedian Jimmy Kimmel, marking his foray into comedic roles.
In 2007, LeBron James led the Cavaliers to their first-ever Eastern Conference championship, earning them a matchup with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
In 2007, LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals appearance, establishing himself as a dominant force in the league.
In 2007, Leon Rose joined Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
In June 2008, LeBron James donated $20,000 to a committee in support of Barack Obama for the 2008 U.S. presidential election.
At the end of the 2008–2009 season, James made his first NBA All-Defensive Team, posting 23 chase-down blocks and a career-high 93 total blocks.
In 2008, LeBron James was a member of the U.S. Olympic team, also known as the "Redeem Team".
In 2008, LeBron James was named All-Star Game MVP for the second time, and he won his first scoring title, averaging 30 points per game.
In 2008, LeBron James won the NBA scoring title, solidifying his reputation as one of the league's premier offensive players.
In 2008, before being named to the Olympic team, LeBron James was given an ultimatum to improve his attitude. The USA team won the gold medal at the Olympics, their first since 2000. In the final game against Spain, James scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out three assists.
From 2009 to 2014, LeBron James earned All-Defensive honors every season.
In 2009, LeBron James became proficient at the chase-down block, involving blocking the shot of the opposition from behind in transition.
In 2009, LeBron James became the first Cavalier to win the NBA MVP Award, capping off a season where he led his team in multiple statistical categories.
In 2009, LeBron James was forced into a temporary point guard role due to injuries in the Cavaliers' backcourt, maintaining the team's momentum and finishing with the league's best record for the second consecutive season.
In 2009, SpringHill Entertainment, owned by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, released its first work, the documentary More Than a Game, chronicling James' high school years.
On July 1, 2010, LeBron James became an unrestricted free agent and was contacted by several teams.
On July 10, 2010, LeBron James officially signed a 6-year, $110 million contract with the Miami Heat through a sign-and-trade deal.
In 2010, Ben Golliver of The Washington Post stated that LeBron James' move to the Heat "defined a decade of player movement", and that he "fundamentally flipped the power balance between stars and their organizations."
In 2010, CAA agents Leon Rose and Henry Thomas helped bring LeBron James to Miami.
In 2010, LeBron James did not play at the FIBA World Championship but rejoined Team USA for the 2012 Olympics in London.
In 2010, LeBron James faced intense criticism from various sources after leaving the Cavaliers, including scrutiny over "The Decision" and backlash from fans and former players.
In 2010, LeBron James had the option to seek a new contract worth more money as an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season.
In 2010, LeBron James joined the Miami Heat as a free agent, a move announced in the nationally televised special "The Decision".
The year 2010 was the potential free agency year for LeBron James, alongside fellow draft class members Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Throughout the 2010-11 season, LeBron James and the Heat were treated as villains by the media and opposing fans.
During the 2011 NBA lockout, LeBron James received contract offers to play professional football from the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks and seriously considered them.
During the extended summer of 2011, LeBron James worked with Hakeem Olajuwon to improve his post up game.
In 2011, Fenway Sports Group became the sole global marketer of LeBron James' rights, granting him a minority stake in the English Premier League football club Liverpool.
In 2011, LeBron James began a streak of eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances, showcasing his consistent performance at the highest level of professional basketball.
In 2012 the Heat had the option to swap first round picks with the Cavaliers as part of the sign-and-trade deal.
In 2012, ESPN ranked LeBron James' Game 5 performance in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals as the fourth greatest in modern NBA playoff history.
In 2012, LeBron James developed into a more versatile defensive player in Miami, guarding all five positions. From 2012-2016 he was ranked among the top three defenders in the NBA by general managers.
In 2012, LeBron James left CAA for Rich Paul.
In 2012, LeBron James rejoined Team USA for the London Olympics, taking on a leadership role. He recorded the first triple-double in U.S. Olympic basketball history against Australia with 11 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists. Team USA won their second straight gold medal, defeating Spain in the final game. James contributed 19 points and became 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.
In 2012, LeBron James won his first NBA championship with the Miami Heat, earning both MVP and Finals MVP honors.
In 2012, LeBron James, Maverick Carter, and Paul Wachter invested less than $1 million in the fast casual chain Blaze Pizza.
In February of the 2012-13 season, LeBron James averaged impressive stats and set efficiency records, leading to Sports Illustrated describing his performance as a "month for the ages".
In 2013, LeBron James secured his second NBA championship with the Miami Heat, once again winning both the regular season MVP and Finals MVP awards.
In 2013, LeBron James surpassed Bryant as the highest paid basketball player in the world, with earnings of $56.5 million.
On March 3 of the 2013-14 season, LeBron James scored a career-high and franchise-record 61 points in a game against the Charlotte Bobcats.
On June 25, 2014, LeBron James opted out of his contract with the Heat.
Beginning in 2014, some analysts reported a regression in LeBron James' defensive impact, stemming from a lack of effort and age-related declines. During his second stint in Cleveland, James' defense progressively declined.
From 2009 to 2014, LeBron James earned All-Defensive honors every season.
In 2014, LeBron James partnered with Arnold Schwarzenegger to found Ladder, a company that developed nutritional supplements to help athletes with severe cramps after dealing with that issue during the 2014 NBA Finals.
In 2014, LeBron James realized a profit of more than $30 million as part of Apple's acquisition of Beats Electronics after promoting Beats headphones.
In 2014, LeBron James requested commissioner Adam Silver to increase the duration of the All-Star break, which was granted the following season.
In 2014, LeBron James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers, marking a significant homecoming in his NBA career.
In 2014, LeBron James took a public stance on Donald Sterling's racist comments, feeling an obligation to effect change using his status.
On February 13, 2015, LeBron James was elected the first vice president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).
In 2015, Despite the loss to the Warriors, James received serious consideration for the Finals MVP Award, averaging 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game.
In 2015, LeBron James announced a partnership with the University of Akron to provide scholarships for as many as 2,300 children beginning in 2021.
In 2015, LeBron James appeared as himself in the film Trainwreck, receiving positive reviews. Also in 2015, his digital video company Uninterrupted raised $15.8 million from Warner Bros. Entertainment and Turner Sports to expand athlete-created content.
In 2015, LeBron James posted his lowest scoring averages since his rookie season. His shooting also temporarily regressed, and James briefly ranked as the NBA's worst high-volume shooter from outside the paint.
In 2015, LeBron James was ranked the sixth highest earning sportsperson.
In the 2015 offseason, LeBron James declined his player option and re-signed on a two-year contract.
In November 2016, LeBron James endorsed and campaigned for Hillary Clinton for the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Following the championship, James again opted out of his contract and re-signed with the Cavaliers in 2016, this time on a three-year, $100 million contract.
From the years 2012–2016, Lebron James was ranked among the top three defenders in the NBA by general managers.
In 2016, LeBron James donated $2.5 million to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture to support an exhibit on Muhammad Ali.
In 2016, LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA championship, overcoming a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors.
In 2016, LeBron James posted his lowest scoring averages since his rookie season. His shooting also temporarily regressed, and James briefly ranked as the NBA's worst high-volume shooter from outside the paint.
In 2016, LeBron James signed with the Cavaliers on a three-year deal, becoming the highest-paid player in the league for the first time in his career.
In 2016, LeBron James was ranked the third highest earning sportsperson.
In 2016, during an interview with Sports Illustrated, LeBron James acknowledged that his motivation was surpassing Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player of all time.
In November 2017, the Akron School Board approved the I Promise School, a public elementary school created in partnership with the LJFF to help struggling elementary school students stay in school.
By 2017, LeBron James' investment in Blaze Pizza had grown to $25 million. He later became a spokesman after ending his contract with McDonald's.
In 2017, LeBron James received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award from the NBA for his outstanding service and dedication to the community.
In 2017, at the Toronto International Film Festival, the 60-minute Vince Carter documentary entitled The Carter Effect was executive produced by James, Maverick Carter, Drake, and Future the Prince.
In February 2018, LeBron James' production company announced it would produce a new film in the House Party series, with James expected to make a cameo. Also in February 2018, Fox News host Laura Ingraham told James to "shut up and dribble" in response to his political views, leading to the creation of the documentary series Shut Up and Dribble.
In February 2018, The Ringer devoted an entire week to both LeBron James and Michael Jordan, with Bill Simmons ultimately concluding that Jordan was still ahead.
On June 29, 2018, LeBron James opted out of his contract with the Cavaliers, becoming an unrestricted free agent.
On July 30, 2018, the I Promise School officially opened, with LeBron James reflecting that it was his most important professional accomplishment.
In 2018, LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, beginning a new chapter in his NBA career.
In 2018, LeBron James' streak of eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances came to an end, marking the conclusion of a significant era in his career.
In February 2019, LeBron James was announced as the executive producer of rapper 2 Chainz's new album, Rap or Go to the League, which celebrates black excellence and focuses on education and entrepreneurship.
In 2019, LeBron James filed for a trademark on the term 'Taco Tuesday' through a shell company for use in various media and entertainment services. The request was denied by the United States Patent and Trademark Office as the term was too commonplace.
On August 19, 2020, LeBron James announced his intentions to support the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign and that of his running-mate Kamala Harris in advance of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
On August 27, 2020, LeBron James and his Lakers teammates, as well as the Bucks, began boycotting the 2020 NBA playoffs to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake.
In November 2020, LeBron James became an angel investor in the tequila and mezcal company Lobos 1707.
In 2020, LeBron James won another NBA title with the Lakers and became the first player to win Finals MVP with three different teams.
In March 2021, LeBron James assisted Dream player Renee Montgomery in her successful bid to buy the WNBA's Atlanta Dream. That same year, James joined Fenway Sports Group as a partner, becoming a part-owner of several sports entities.
In 2021, scholarships are provided to as many as 2,300 children through LeBron James' partnership with the University of Akron.
In June 2022, LeBron James announced the launch of Hana Kuma, a media company created in partnership with tennis player Naomi Osaka and Maverick Carter.
In August 2022, LeBron James, along with Canadian musician Drake, became part owners of the Italian football club A.C. Milan.
On August 18, 2022, LeBron James signed a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension with the Lakers, including a player option in the second year, making him the highest-paid athlete in NBA history at $529 million.
In 2022, Crypto.com launched an NFT airdrop campaign featuring NBA champion LeBron James, distributing 5,550 tokens to randomly chosen participants who scanned a QR code in their Super Bowl ad. Furthermore, in 2022, the LeBron James Family Foundation partnered with Crypto.com to provide blockchain and Web3 education to underserved communities in Akron.
In 2022, LeBron James took a public stance on the ruling of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade.
In 2022, LeBron James voiced his desire to play into his forties, potentially alongside or against his sons Bronny and Bryce.
In 2022-23 season, on April 9, James posted 36 points, six rebounds, and six assists to lead the Lakers to a 128–117 victory over the Jazz, earning the seventh seed in the Western Conference play-in tournament.
On February 7, 2023, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer. The game was paused, and a ceremony was held where Abdul-Jabbar presented James with the game ball.
According to Forbes, in May 2023, LeBron James became the first active NBA player to become a billionaire.
In 2023, LeBron James led the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals, marking their second Conference finals appearance in five seasons, before being swept by the Denver Nuggets.
In 2023, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer, marking a historic milestone in his career.
In 2023, LeBron James won the inaugural NBA Cup with the Los Angeles Lakers, adding another achievement to his illustrious career.
In March 2024, LeBron James and JJ Redick launched a basketball podcast called Mind the Game.
In June 2024, the Mind the Game podcast was suspended after JJ Redick was hired as head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.
On July 6, 2024, LeBron James re-signed with the Lakers on a two-year, $104 million contract which carried a no-trade clause and had a player option in the second year.
On October 22, 2024, LeBron James and his son Bronny James shared the court for the first time in the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
On October 31, 2024, LeBron James announced his support for the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign in the 2024 U.S. presidential election in a video posted on social media.
As of 2024, LeBron James has been named to 21 All-NBA Teams, including 13 times to the First Team, both NBA records.
As of 2024, LeBron James' career averages are 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. Throughout the 2010s, he was usually ranked as the best player in the NBA each season by ESPN and Sports Illustrated.
In 2024, LeBron James and his son Bronny became the first father-son teammates in NBA league history.
In 2024, at 39 years old, LeBron James rejoined the national team for the Paris Olympics as Team Captain. Voted by the U.S. delegation, James was named as one of the two Team USA flag-bearers for the opening ceremony. He led the team in rebounds and assists, and recorded his second Olympic triple double in a semi-final comeback win against Serbia. Team USA won their fifth straight gold medal, defeating France in the final game. James was named the FIBA Men's Olympics MVP and was selected to the FIBA Men's Olympics All-Star Five. He became the third male basketball player to win three gold medals at the Olympics.
On January 3, 2025, LeBron James surpassed Michael Jordan for the most 30-point games in NBA history with 563, during a win over the Atlanta Hawks.
On March 4, 2025, LeBron James surpassed 50,000 career points across the regular season and playoffs during a win against the New Orleans Pelicans.
In March 2025, a second season of Mind the Game was announced with Steve Nash replacing JJ Redick as LeBron James' new co-host.
On October 9, 2025, the Lakers announced that LeBron James would be sidelined for the start of the 2025–26 season due to sciatica on his right side, marking the first time in his career he missed a season opener.
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