A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving LeBron James.
LeBron James, nicknamed "King James", is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers. He holds the distinction of being the NBA's all-time leading scorer. James has won four NBA championships across 10 NBA Finals appearances, including eight consecutive appearances from 2011 to 2018. He secured the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023 with the Lakers. Furthermore, he has earned three Olympic gold medals as part of the U.S. national team, solidifying his status as one of the sport's most accomplished players.
In 2006, LeBron James played in the FIBA World Championship in Japan, where Team USA won another bronze medal. His behavior was questioned by teammate Bruce Bowen.
Following his actions during the 2010 free agency period and The Decision, LeBron James was listed as one of the most disliked athletes in the United States.
In 2010, LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers and joined the Miami Heat as a free agent. This decision was announced in a nationally televised special titled "The Decision".
In 2010, after leaving the Cavaliers, LeBron James faced substantial criticism from sports analysts, executives, fans, and players, and the phrase "taking my talents to South Beach" became a punch line. There were accusations of forming a superteam with Bosh and Wade, and James later suggested race might have been a factor in the fallout.
In 2014, LeBron James took a public stance against the now-former NBA owner Donald Sterling's racist comments.
During the 2015-16 season, LeBron James faced criticism for his role in off-court controversies, including the midseason firing of Cavaliers' coach David Blatt. Despite this, Cleveland finished with the best record in the East.
Following a racist incident at his Los Angeles home in 2017, LeBron James expressed that "being black in America is tough". Later that year, in the aftermath of the Unite the Right rally, James questioned the "Make America Great Again" slogan.
In February 2018, it was announced that James's production company would produce a new film in the "House Party" series. 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."
During a 2018 interview with CNN journalist Don Lemon, LeBron James accused President Donald Trump of attempting to divide the country with sports, and declared that he would never sit across from him.
During the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, a statement LeBron James made about a since-deleted tweet by Daryl Morey, in which Morey expressed support for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, became the subject of controversy.
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 2020, LeBron James' statement about a since-deleted tweet by Daryl Morey, in which Morey expressed support for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, became the subject of controversy. James said Morey was "misinformed".
In February 2022, political commentator Bill Maher called LeBron James hypocritical for not taking a critical stance towards the Chinese government's human rights abuses.
In 2022, LeBron James spoke out about the ruling of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade, as one of many instances where he has taken public stances on controversial issues, and has mentioned a feeling of obligation to effect change using his status.
In September 2023, ESPN reported that a new set of client names from the Biogenesis scandal had been released; included was Ernest "Randy" Mims, a longtime friend and business manager of LeBron James. The DEA determined that there "was never any indication that LeBron James did anything wrong."
In a March 2025 interview, LeBron James denied spending $1.5 million a year on his health, claiming he did not know where that number came from.
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