LeBron James, nicknamed "King James," is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA's all-time leading scorer. Widely regarded as one of basketball's greatest, he has secured four NBA championships across ten NBA Finals appearances, including an impressive streak of eight consecutive appearances (2011-2018). James has also won three Olympic gold medals playing for the U.S. national team, solidifying his status as a dominant force and icon in the sport.
LeBron James' ambition to own an NBA team faces uncertainty as potential partners decline expansion bids, hindering his path to ownership in Las Vegas.
On December 30, 1984, LeBron Raymone James was born. He is now known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
August 27, 1986 marks the birthdate of Savannah James (née Brinson), LeBron James's wife and high school sweetheart.
In 2006, under James' 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 the summer of 2001, before his junior year, 16-year-old LeBron James was featured in an article in Slam magazine, lauded as possibly the best high school basketball player in America.
On December 12, 2002, during his senior year, LeBron James and St. Vincent–St. Mary played against Oak Hill Academy, a nationally ranked team. The game was nationally televised on ESPN2.
Following a loss in the Division II championship game in 2002, LeBron James unsuccessfully petitioned for a change to the NBA's draft eligibility rules in an attempt to enter the NBA draft.
In May 2003, after a bidding war among Nike, Reebok, and Adidas, LeBron James signed a seven-year endorsement deal with Nike for approximately $90 million, setting the stage for his successful signature Nike shoes.
In 2003, LeBron James custom-built a 30,000 square foot mansion in Akron, Ohio, at a cost of $2.1 million.
In 2003, LeBron James participated in year-end high school basketball all-star games, losing his NCAA eligibility and making it official that he would enter the NBA draft.
In 2003, LeBron James was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA draft.
In 2003, The Cleveland Cavaliers selected James as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft. In his first regular season game, James scored 25 points in a 106–92 loss to the Sacramento Kings. At the conclusion of the 2003–04 season, James became the first Cavalier to receive the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
In 2004, LeBron James earned his first NBA All-Star Game selection, contributing 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists for the Eastern Conference.
In 2004, as a 19-year-old rookie, James debuted for the United States national team at the Olympics in Athens, Greece. The team won a bronze medal, the first time the U.S. basketball team didn't win gold since NBA players were allowed to participate in the Olympics.
In 2005, LeBron James left his first agent, Aaron Goodwin, for Leon Rose.
In 2005, LeBron James missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
In 2005, LeBron James was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world.
Since 2005, the LeBron James Family Foundation has held an annual bike-a-thon to raise money for various causes.
At the 2006 All-Star Game, LeBron James led the Eastern Conference to victory with 29 points and was named the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (MVP).
During the 2006 offseason, LeBron James signed a three-year, $60 million contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In 2006, James played a bigger role for Team USA at the FIBA World Championship in Japan, averaging 13.9 points per game. The team finished with an 8–1 record, winning another bronze medal, but James was known for his poor attitude.
The Cavaliers finished the 2006-07 season with 50 wins and entered the playoffs as the second seed in the Eastern Conference.
On December 11, 2007, LeBron James came off the bench for the first time in his career to support his teammate Anderson Varejão during a pay dispute.
In 2007, LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals appearance.
In 2007, Leon Rose joined Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
In 2007, at the FIBA Americas Championship, James scored 31 points against Argentina in the championship game, the most ever by an American in an Olympic qualifier.
In 2007, during the NBA Finals, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich exploited James' weaknesses, such as his unreliable jump shot, by forcing him to settle for three-pointers and long two-pointers. James scored on only 36 percent of his two-point field goal attempts, and on only 20 percent of his three-point attempts.
In the 2007 NBA Finals, LeBron James and the Cavaliers lost in the first Finals sweep since 2007.
In March 2008, LeBron James appeared on the cover of Vogue with Gisele Bündchen, sparking controversy. ESPN columnist Jemele Hill criticized the cover, deeming it offensive and "memorable for the wrong reasons," likening James' demeanor and his pose with Bündchen to the classic imagery of King Kong, depicting a dark savage capturing his fair-skinned love interest.
In June 2008, LeBron James donated $20,000 to a committee supporting Barack Obama's 2008 U.S. presidential election campaign. He also gathered almost 20,000 people at Rocket Arena for a free Jay-Z concert and a viewing of Obama's television advertisement.
At the end of the 2008-2009 season, LeBron James made his first NBA All-Defensive Team, with 23 chase-down blocks and a career-high 93 total blocks.
In 2008, LeBron James won the NBA scoring title.
In 2008, Team USA went undefeated and won the gold medal at the Olympics in Beijing.
In 2008, prior to the Olympics, Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski told James he could only play if he improved his attitude, which he did. Colangelo noted that James matured significantly as a result of the ultimatum.
LeBron James was a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, also known as the Redeem Team. In 2025, James was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the team.
In June 2009, LeBron James underwent surgery at the Cleveland Clinic to remove a benign tumor in the parotid gland on the right side of his jaw.
During the 2009-10 NBA season, despite only playing 39 minutes per game, LeBron James received his second NBA MVP Award. James was forced into a temporary point guard role following injuries to players in the Cavaliers' backcourt.
From 2009, James earned All-Defensive honors every season.
In 2009, James demonstrated proficiency at the chase-down block.
In 2009, SpringHill Entertainment's first project was the documentary More Than a Game, chronicling LeBron James' high school years.
In the 2009 playoffs, Cleveland lost to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals in six games. Following the loss, James left the court without shaking hands with his opponents, which was viewed as unsportsmanlike by some.
On July 1, 2010, LeBron James became an unrestricted free agent and was contacted by several teams.
On July 10, 2010, LeBron James signed a 6-year, $110 million contract with the Miami Heat and changed his jersey number to 6. The Heat threw a welcome party for the "Big Three", during which James declared that the Heat would win multiple championships.
Following his actions during the 2010 free agency period and The Decision, James was listed as one of the most disliked athletes in the United States.
In 2010, James became the leader of Team USA.
In 2010, 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, LeBron James joined the Miami Heat as a free agent, announcing his decision in "The Decision" television special.
In 2010, Leon Rose, working with Henry Thomas at CAA, helped bring LeBron James to Miami.
Throughout 2010, LeBron James was treated as a villain by the media and opposing fans, causing the Heat to struggle early in the season.
During the 2011 NBA lockout, LeBron James received professional football contract offers from the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks and considered them seriously.
In 2011, during the lockout-delayed season, LeBron James worked with Hakeem Olajuwon to improve his post up game and aimed to regain a sense of joy on the court.
In 2012, ESPN ranked LeBron James' Game 5 performance against the Detroit Pistons in 2006 as the fourth greatest in modern NBA playoff history.
In 2012, James developed into a more versatile defensive player, and the Heat relied on him to guard all five positions.
In 2012, James recorded the first triple-double in U.S. Olympic basketball history during a game against Australia. Team USA won the gold medal, defeating Spain in the final game, and James became the all-time leading scorer in U.S. men's basketball history.
In 2012, LeBron James had a cameo role on the HBO series Entourage.
In 2012, LeBron James left CAA for Rich Paul.
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 Pasadena-based fast-casual chain Blaze Pizza.
In January 2012, LeBron James became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points, marking a significant milestone in his career.
On September 14, 2013, LeBron James married his high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson, in San Diego, California.
By 2013, James' 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 2013, LeBron James hosted the 33rd-season premiere of Saturday Night Live.
In 2013, LeBron James surpassed Kobe Bryant as the highest-paid basketball player in the world, with earnings of $56.5 million.
In 2013, LeBron James was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world.
In 2013, LeBron James won his second NBA championship with the Miami Heat, earning both MVP and Finals MVP honors for the second consecutive year.
On March 3, 2013, LeBron James scored a career-high 61 points against the Charlotte Bobcats, setting a record for three-point field goals made in a 60-point game.
In June 2014, LeBron James opted out of his contract with the Heat and returned to the Cavaliers, signing a two-year, $42 million contract and switching back to the No. 23 jersey.
Beginning in 2014, some analysts saw a regression in James' defensive impact, stemming from a lack of effort and expected age-related declines.
In 2014, James experienced severe cramps during the NBA Finals, later inspiring the formation of Ladder, a nutritional supplement company.
In 2014, James reportedly asked NBA commissioner Adam Silver to increase the duration of the All-Star break, and it was extended the following season.
In 2014, James was named the most popular male athlete in America by the Harris Poll.
In 2014, LeBron James and the Cavaliers advanced to the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, marking his fifth consecutive Finals appearance.
In 2014, LeBron James took a public stance against Donald Sterling's racist comments.
In 2014, When Apple acquired Beats Electronics, James earned more than $30 million through the sale of his stake in the company.
Until 2014, James earned All-Defensive honors every season.
On February 13, 2015, James was elected the first vice president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).
In November 2015, LeBron James bought a 9,350 square-foot East Coast-style mansion in Brentwood, Los Angeles, for $21 million.
During the 2015 offseason, LeBron James declined his player option and re-signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a two-year, $47 million contract.
In 2015, James began to experience subtle age-related declines in productivity, posting his lowest scoring averages since his rookie season.
In 2015, LeBron James announced a partnership with the University of Akron to provide scholarships for up to 2,300 children starting in 2021.
In 2015, LeBron James appeared as himself in the Judd Apatow film Trainwreck. Also in 2015, James' digital video company Uninterrupted raised $15.8 million from Warner Bros. Entertainment and Turner Sports to expand its athlete-created content efforts on Bleacher Report.
In 2015, LeBron James was ranked the sixth highest-earning athlete globally.
In 2016, James experienced subtle age-related declines in productivity. His shooting also temporarily regressed, and he briefly ranked as the NBA's worst high-volume shooter from outside the key.
In 2016, James said in an interview with Sports Illustrated that he was hoping to surpass Michael Jordan as the greatest player.
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, ending the Cleveland sports curse.
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 2016, LeBron James was ranked as the third highest-earning athlete worldwide.
In 2016, some analysts saw a regression in James' defensive impact, stemming from a lack of effort and expected age-related declines.
The 2016 season was marred by injuries and unexpected losses for the Cavaliers; James described it as one of the strangest years of his career.
In November 2017, the Akron School Board approved the I Promise School, a public elementary school created in partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation.
In December 2017, LeBron James purchased another home in Brentwood for $23 million.
By 2017, LeBron James' initial investment in Blaze Pizza had grown to $25 million. James became a spokesman for the company after ending his contract with McDonald's.
In 2017, LeBron James called U.S. President Donald Trump a "bum" after Trump withdrew a White House invitation to Stephen Curry.
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, LeBron James was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world.
In 2017, Uninterrupted produced the documentary The Carter Effect, which was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In 2017, after a racial slur was painted on the gate of LeBron James' Brentwood home, he commented on the difficulty of being black in the United States.
In a November 3, 2017 game, LeBron James scored 57 points, which was the second-highest point total of his career and a franchise record.
In February 2018, The Ringer spent an entire week devoted to James and Michael Jordan, with Bill Simmons ultimately concluding that Jordan was still ahead.
In June 2018, LeBron James opted out of his contract with the Cavaliers and became a free agent, signing with the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year, $153.5 million contract.
On July 30, 2018, the I Promise School opened, with LeBron James reflecting that it was his most important professional accomplishment.
In 2018, LeBron James partnered with Arnold Schwarzenegger to found Ladder, a company that developed nutritional supplements to help athletes with severe cramps.
In 2018, LeBron James started his season with the Lakers, who hoped he would make them championship contenders.
In 2018, in response to Laura Ingraham's "shut up and dribble" comment, LeBron James produced a Showtime documentary film series called Shut Up and Dribble, examining the role of athletes in politics and culture.
In October 2019, after NBA executive Daryl Morey expressed support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong and LeBron James said Morey was misinformed, James faced criticism and racist language on social media.
During the 2019 offseason, the Lakers traded several players to the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis.
In 2019, LeBron James filed for a trademark on the term "Taco Tuesday" for use in various media and entertainment services, related to his use of the term on Instagram. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied the request, stating that "Taco Tuesday" was a commonplace term.
In 2019, LeBron James was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world.
In 2019, LeBron James was the executive producer of rapper 2 Chainz's album Rap or Go to the League, celebrating "black excellence."
In 2019, the Lakers were eliminated from playoff and play-in contention for the first time since 2019.
On January 25, 2020, LeBron James reached third place on the all-time regular season scoring list, surpassing Kobe Bryant, a day before Bryant's death.
In July 2020, one of James' rookie cards sold for $1.8 million.
In August 2020, LeBron James announced his support for the campaign of Joe Biden for the 2020 U.S. presidential election. James supported the More Than a Vote movement, encouraging African-Americans to vote and criticizing voter suppression.
On August 27, 2020, LeBron James and his Lakers teammates, along with the Milwaukee Bucks, boycotted the 2020 NBA playoffs to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake. White House advisor Jared Kushner planned to contact James about the boycott. Following discussions, James and others spoke with Barack Obama, who advised them to continue playing and finish the NBA season.
In September 2020, LeBron James purchased a home in Beverly Hills for $36.75 million.
In November 2020, LeBron James became an angel investor in the tequila and mezcal company Lobos 1707.
In 2020, James signed a two-year, $85.7 million extension to stay with the Lakers through the 2022-23 season.
In 2020, LeBron James won another NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming the first player to win Finals MVP with three different teams.
In March 2021, after frustration with comments made by Kelly Loeffler, owner of the Atlanta Dream, on the Black Lives Matter movement, LeBron James assisted Dream player Renee Montgomery in her bid to buy the team. That same year, James joined Fenway Sports Group as a partner, becoming a part-owner of several sports entities.
In 2021, LeBron James starred in the sports film "Space Jam: A New Legacy".
In 2021, the scholarship program announced in 2015 with the University of Akron began, providing scholarships for up to 2,300 children.
On November 21, 2021, James was ejected after getting into a scuffle with Isaiah Stewart, only the second time he was ejected from a game, and he was suspended for one game.
In February 2022, Bill Maher criticized LeBron James for not taking a strong stance against the Chinese government's human rights abuses.
In June 2022, it was announced that LeBron James was launching a media company in partnership with professional tennis player Naomi Osaka and Maverick Carter. The production and content creation company will be named Hana Kuma.
In August 2022, LeBron James signed a two-year, $97 million contract extension with the Lakers, bringing his career earnings to $529 million, an NBA record.
In August 2022, LeBron James, along with Canadian musician Drake, became part owners of the Italian football club A.C. Milan.
During Super Bowl LVI in 2022, a Crypto.com commercial featured LeBron James advising a CGI version of his younger self, sparking internet memes. Crypto.com distributed 5,550 non-fungible tokens (NFTs) featuring James to randomly selected recipients who scanned a QR code in the commercial. The LeBron James Family Foundation partnered with Crypto to educate underserved Akron communities about blockchains and Web3 tools.
In 2022, James earned his 18th All-Star selection and was celebrated as a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
In 2022, LeBron James took a public stance on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.
In 2022, during a play-in tournament to determine playoff seeds, the Lakers defeated the Warriors 103–100, with James posting a triple-double.
During January 2023, LeBron James achieved multiple milestones, including receiving his 66th Player of the Week award, reaching 38,000 points, achieving his 100th career game with 40+ points, and being named an All-Star starter.
On April 11, 2023, Jeff Benedict's biography of LeBron James, titled 'LeBron', was published, marking the culmination of three years of research and over 250 interviews.
As of June 2023, James is the most followed basketball player on Instagram, with over 155 million followers.
In September 2023, new client names from the Biogenesis scandal were released, including Ernest "Randy" Mims, a friend and business manager of James, and David Alexander, a trainer who co-owned a juice business with Savannah James. The DEA determined that there was no indication that LeBron James did anything wrong.
In 2023, Bronny James, LeBron's son, was named as a McDonald's All-American, 20 years after LeBron's selection.
In 2023, LeBron James and the Lakers won the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, with James receiving the Tournament MVP award and being selected to the All-Tournament team.
In 2023, LeBron James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
In 2023, SpringHill and Warner Bros. released a reboot of the House Party film series, which contains a cameo by James.
On January 25, 2024, LeBron James was named an All-Star starter for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, marking his 20th NBA All-Star selection.
In March 2024, LeBron James and JJ Redick launched a podcast called Mind the Game, featuring "pure conversations about basketball."
In June 2024, the Mind the Game podcast was suspended after JJ Redick was hired as the head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.
On July 6, 2024, James re-signed with the Lakers on a two-year, $104 million contract with a no-trade clause and a player option in the second year.
In October 2024, LeBron James announced his support for Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
As of 2024, James has been named to 21 All-NBA Teams, including 13 times to the First Team, which are both NBA records.
In 2024, James joined the Olympic squad in Paris as team captain. James was one of two Team USA flag-bearers for the opening ceremony of the games, becoming the first male basketball player to receive the honor. Team USA won their fifth straight gold medal, defeating France 98–87 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. James became the third male basketball player to win three gold medals at the Olympics.
In 2024, LeBron James and his son Bronny became the first father-son teammates in league history.
On January 3, 2025, James scored 30 points and eight assists in a 119–102 win over the Hawks, surpassing Michael Jordan for the most 30-point regular season games in NBA history.
In March 2025, a second season of Mind the Game was announced, with Steve Nash replacing JJ Redick as LeBron James' new co-host.
In a March 2025 interview, LeBron James denied spending up to $1 million per year on his health, despite previous reports.
In 2025, LeBron James was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team (also known as the "Redeem Team").
In 2025, Mattel announced the addition of a Ken doll modeled after LeBron James to its Barbie toy line. The doll is an inch taller than a standard Ken doll. In the same year, James was named an honorary co-chair of the Met Gala in Manhattan but did not attend due to a knee injury.
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