176 Facts About LeBron James

LeBron James won the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023 with the Lakers and has won three Olympic gold medals as a member of the US national team.

LeBron James won Rookie of the Year and quickly established himself as one of the league's premier players, leading Cleveland to its first NBA Finals appearance in 2007 and winning the scoring title in 2008.

LeBron James signed with the Lakers in 2018, winning another title in 2020 and becoming the first player to win Finals MVP with three different teams.

LeBron James has been featured in books, documentaries, and television commercials.

LeBron James has won 20 ESPY Awards, hosted Saturday Night Live, and starred in the sports film Space Jam: A New Legacy.

LeBron James has been a part-owner of Liverpool FC since 2011 and leads the LeBron James Family Foundation, which has opened an elementary school, housing complex, retail plaza, and medical center in Akron.

LeBron James was born on December 30,1984, in Akron, Ohio, to Gloria Marie LeBron James, who was only 16 at the time of his birth.

When LeBron James was growing up, life was often a struggle for the family, as they moved from apartment to apartment in the seedier neighborhoods of Akron while Gloria struggled to find steady work.

LeBron James later played Amateur Athletic Union basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars.

Also during his senior year, LeBron James was the centerpiece of several controversies.

LeBron James was cleared of any wrongdoing because he had accepted the luxury vehicle from a family member and not from an agent or any outside source.

Later in the season, LeBron James accepted two throwback jerseys worth $845 from an urban clothing store in exchange for posing for pictures, officially violating OHSAA rules and resulting in his being stripped of his high school sports eligibility.

LeBron James appealed the ruling and his penalty was eventually dropped to a two-game suspension, allowing him to play the remainder of the year.

LeBron James was recruited by some Division I programs, including Notre Dame.

LeBron James did not play during his senior year because of a wrist injury that he sustained in an AAU basketball game.

Some sports analysts, football critics, high school coaches, as well as former and current professional players have speculated that LeBron James could have played in the National Football League.

LeBron James was selected by his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft.

At the 2006 All-Star Game, LeBron James led the East to victory with 29 points and was named the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player.

LeBron James's performance is considered one of the greatest playoff performances of all time as he scored 29 of Cleveland's last 30 points, including 25 straight, and the game-winning layup with two seconds left.

LeBron James averaged 22 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game on just 35.6 percent shooting, as Cleveland was eliminated in a four-game sweep.

LeBron James became only the fourth postmerger player to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks in a single season.

In Game 1 of the series, LeBron James scored 49 points on 66 percent shooting in a losing effort for the Cavaliers.

Cleveland would lose the series in six games, and following the loss in Game 6, LeBron James immediately left the floor without shaking hands with his opponents, which was an act that many media members viewed as unsportsmanlike.

LeBron James was heavily criticized for not playing well in Game 5 of the series, shooting only 20 percent on 14 shots and scoring 15 points.

The Cavaliers were officially eliminated from the postseason in Game 6, with LeBron James posting 27 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists in the losing effort.

LeBron James decided to join with Bosh and Wade in part so that he could shoulder less of the offensive load; LeBron James thought that his improved teammates would give him a better chance of winning an NBA championship than had he stayed in Cleveland.

LeBron James would be relieved of the burden of scoring, and he thought he could be the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double in a season.

Former NBA players, including Jordan and Magic Johnson, were critical of LeBron James, condemning him for forming a superteam with Bosh and Wade in Miami and not trying to win a championship in Cleveland, though Jordan did acknowledge that the options players had at the time were much more expansive than those he and others had in the 1980s and 1990s.

In retrospect, LeBron James has expressed some regret over his handling of The Decision.

LeBron James officially signed a 6-year, $110 million contract 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.

LeBron James later admitted that the constant negativity surrounding the team made him play with an angrier demeanor than in years past.

LeBron James scored 38 points and led Miami to a victory while being booed every time he touched the ball.

The Heat eventually turned their season around and finished as the East's second seed, with LeBron James averaging 26.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game on 51 percent shooting.

LeBron James received the brunt of the criticism for the loss, averaging only three points in fourth quarters in the series and scored just eight points in Game 4, a game Miami lost by just three points.

LeBron James's Finals scoring average of 17.8 points per game signified an 8.9-point drop from the regular season, the largest point drop-off in league history.

Humbled by the Heat's loss to the Mavericks, the experience inspired LeBron James to leave behind the villain role that he had been embracing, which helped LeBron James regain a sense of joy on the court.

LeBron James was eventually named MVP for the third time, finishing with averages of 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game on 53 percent shooting.

LeBron James responded with a 40-point, 18-rebound, and nine-assist outing in Game 4 to help even the series.

Miami won Game 7 to advance to the Finals, earning them a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder and LeBron James' budding rival Kevin Durant.

Late in Game 4 of the series, LeBron James hit a three-pointer to give the Heat a lead, helping them win the game despite missing time with leg cramps.

LeBron James was unanimously voted the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player with averages of 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game.

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron James scored a buzzer-beating layup to give Miami a one-point victory against the Pacers.

In Game 6, LeBron James recorded his second triple-double of the series, including 16 fourth quarter points, to lead the Heat to a comeback victory.

LeBron James was named Finals MVP for the second straight season, averaging 25.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 2.3 steals per game for the championship round.

LeBron James converted on his first eight three-point field goal attempts through three quarters, setting a new record for the most three-point field goals made in a 60-point game.

LeBron James set the record for most points in a single game while wearing a mask.

In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, LeBron James missed most of the fourth quarter because of leg cramps, helping the San Antonio Spurs take an early series lead.

On June 25,2014, LeBron James opted out of his contract with the Heat, and on July 1, he officially became an unrestricted free agent.

In total, LeBron James played a then career-low 69 games and his final averages were 25.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game.

LeBron 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.

LeBron 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 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.

The Cavaliers finished the season as the East's second seed, with LeBron James averaging 26.4 points and career highs in rebounds, assists, and turnovers per game.

In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, LeBron James scored 35 points and surpassed Jordan as the league's all-time postseason scoring leader.

Behind averages of 33.6 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 10.0 assists per game, LeBron James became the first player to average a triple-double in the Finals, but Cleveland was defeated in five games.

LeBron James eventually finished the season with averages of 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 4.2 turnovers per game.

The Cavaliers lost the series in four games, with LeBron James averaging 34 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 10.0 assists per game for the Finals.

On June 29,2018, LeBron James opted out of his contract with the Cavaliers and became an unrestricted free agent.

Four days later, LeBron James scored a season-high 51 points in a victory over the Heat.

LeBron James missed a then career-high 17 consecutive games, and the Lakers fell out of playoff contention without him, marking the first time that LeBron James missed the playoffs since 2005.

LeBron James immediately embraced the team's much-improved roster by transforming his playing style, moving to full-time point guard, and competing with a more consistent defensive effort.

LeBron James earned a record 16th All-NBA Team selection as part of the First Team, extending his record First Team selections to 13.

In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets, LeBron James helped clinch the conference championship by scoring a game-high 38 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter.

In Game 5, LeBron James had his best statistical performance of the Finals with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists in a memorable duel with Miami's Jimmy Butler, but Los Angeles was ultimately defeated in a three-point game.

The Lakers eliminated the Heat in Game 6, which earned LeBron 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, LeBron James 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.

On February 18,2021, LeBron James became the third player in NBA history with 35,000 career points, joining Hall of Famers Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone; aged 36 years and 50 days, he was the youngest player to reach the milestone.

LeBron James's 34-foot shot over Stephen Curry 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.

The Lakers lost to the Suns in six games, marking the first time LeBron James lost in the first round in his career.

LeBron James 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.

LeBron James 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.

LeBron James became the oldest player in NBA history to record at least 25 points in ten straight games, doing so at 37 years old.

At the 2022 NBA All-Star Game held in Cleveland, LeBron James was celebrated among the other 74 players for the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

In March, LeBron James recorded two 50-point games, which were his Lakers' career-high, becoming the oldest player to have multiple 50-point games in a season, as well as the first Lakers player since Bryant in 2008 to have back-to-back 50-point home games; it was LeBron James' 15th 50-point game in his 19-year career, including the postseason.

LeBron James recorded his 10,000th career assist, becoming the only player in NBA history to record at least 10,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists.

LeBron James was ruled out the rest of the season due to soreness in his left ankle.

LeBron James recorded his 1,135th career 20-point game, passing Karl Malone for the most such games in NBA history.

LeBron James recorded his 10,142nd assist, surpassing Johnson for sixth place on the NBA all-time career assists list.

On January 9,2023, LeBron James received his 66th Player of the Week award, doubling the career total of runner-up Bryant.

On January 19, LeBron James was named as a starter at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, tying Abdul-Jabbar's record for the most All-Star selections.

LeBron James surpassed Mark Jackson and Steve Nash for fourth on the NBA all-time career assists list.

On February 7,2023, LeBron James passed Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leading scorer in NBA history.

LeBron James gave a speech and then embraced Abdul-Jabbar, as well as his family.

LeBron James missed the following three games due to left ankle soreness.

LeBron James scored 26 points on 10-for-23 shooting, eight rebounds, and three assists in 37 minutes.

LeBron James came off the bench for just the second time in his career; the other being in 2007.

LeBron James tied Jason Kidd for fourth place on the all-time career triple-doubles list.

LeBron James finished the regular season with averages of 28.9 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, 6.8 assists per game, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to average at least 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a season.

LeBron James won his 41st playoff series, surpassing Derek Fisher for the most all-time playoff series wins in NBA history.

LeBron James moved up to the fifth and eighth places in the all-time triple-doubles and three-pointers lists, respectively.

LeBron James tied Vince Carter for seventh on the all-time three-pointers made list with 2,290, and moved past Clyde Drexler for eighth on the all-time steals list at 2,208.

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, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar for the most All-Star selections in NBA history.

Three days later, LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to reach 40,000 career points.

LeBron James surpassed Jordan for the most 30-point games in NBA history with 672.

LeBron James finished his 21st season in the NBA averaging 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds a game.

LeBron James tied the Lakers franchise record for the most consecutive triple-doubles made, joining Magic Johnson and Russell Westbrook.

LeBron James surpassed Jordan for the most 30-point games in NBA history.

LeBron James passed Dirk Nowitzki for the fourth-most games played in the regular season in NBA history.

LeBron James became the second NBA player to post a triple-double at age 40 or older.

LeBron James passed Scottie Pippen for 7th place on the all-time steals list.

LeBron James became the seventh player to reach 2,500 career three-pointers.

LeBron James joined Jordan as the only players to record 40+ points in a game at 40 years or older.

At 40 years and 38 days, LeBron James became the oldest player to score 40+ points in a game.

LeBron James is the youngest, at 19 years, 88 days old.

LeBron James became the first player older than 30 to record 30+ pts, 15+ reb, 5+ ast and 5+ triples in a game.

LeBron James was selected for his 21st NBA All-Star Game, but missed the 2025 contest due to foot and ankle soreness, ending his streak of consecutive All-Star starts at 20.

LeBron James 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.

LeBron James felt that his limited playing time was a "lowlight" and believed he was not given "a fair opportunity to play".

At the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, LeBron 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.

LeBron James's behavior was again questioned, this time by teammate Bruce Bowen, who confronted LeBron James during tryouts regarding his treatment of staff members.

LeBron James did not play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship but rejoined Team USA for the 2012 Olympics in London, England.

LeBron James became the leader of the team, with Bryant, who would soon be 34, stepping back.

LeBron James facilitated the offense from the post and perimeter, called the defensive sets, and provided scoring when needed.

LeBron James contributed 19 points in the victory, becoming the all-time leading scorer in US men's basketball history.

LeBron James 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.

LeBron James recorded his second Olympic triple double in a comeback win in the semi-final against Serbia with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

LeBron James became the first player in Olympic history with two triple doubles.

LeBron James became the third male basketball player to win three gold medals at the Olympics.

LeBron James's playing style, which is athletic and versatile, has drawn comparisons to Basketball Hall of Fame players Oscar Robertson; Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

LeBron James holds numerous "youngest to" distinctions, including being the youngest player to score 30,000 career points.

Around this time, LeBron James was frequently criticized for not having a reliable 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 LeBron James converted on only 36 percent of his field goals in four games.

LeBron James spent more time in the post and improved his shot selection and accuracy on jump shots.

LeBron James learned how to work as an off-ball cutter in the Heat's "pass-happy" offense.

Behind these improvements, LeBron James' overall scoring efficiency rose to historically great levels.

LeBron James's shooting temporarily regressed, and James briefly ranked as the NBA's worst high-volume shooter from outside the paint.

For most of his career, LeBron James has controlled the offense as the primary ball handler on his team.

LeBron James executes unconventional passes, including after leaving his feet and through defensive traffic.

Early in his career, LeBron James 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, LeBron James' clutch performance was viewed more favorably.

At the beginning of his NBA career, LeBron James was considered a poor defensive player, but he improved steadily through the years.

In 2009, LeBron James became proficient at the chase-down block, which involves coming in from behind the opposition in transition to block the shot.

LeBron James himself admitted to taking plays off at times, referring to this approach as "chill mode".

LeBron James eventually developed a reputation for raising his defensive level in the playoffs, which some analysts referred to as "Playoff LeBron".

LeBron James left high school as one of the most hyped prospects in NBA history.

LeBron James has won four Finals MVP Awards, which is the second-most all-time, and earned All-Defensive honors every season from 2009 to 2014.

LeBron James's teams have appeared in the Finals ten times and won four championships; his 10 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 LeBron James usually performed well but his team was defeated by superior competition.

In 2022, LeBron James voiced his desire to play into his forties potentially alongside or against his sons Bronny and Bryce.

LeBron James married his high school sweetheart, Savannah LeBron James, on September 14,2013, in San Diego, California.

LeBron James purchased another home in Brentwood in December 2017 for $23 million.

LeBron James owns a 30,000 square foot mansion in Akron, Ohio that he custom built in 2003 on his property and spent $2.1 million on it.

However, LeBron James' routine is not perfectly clean; he drinks wine every night, falsely believing it to be good for his heart, while Tristan Thompson has stated that LeBron James eats desserts with every meal.

Biopsy results showed that LeBron 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.

LeBron James is considered by fellow NBA players, media tabloids, and popular culture to be the "face of the NBA", often alongside Warriors superstar Stephen Curry.

LeBron James's opinions have yielded significant influence on people who make important league decisions; for example, in 2014, James 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, LeBron James was elected the first vice president of the National Basketball Players Association.

In 2014, LeBron James was named the most popular male athlete in America by the Harris Poll.

LeBron James has led the league in jersey sales six times.

All jerseys worn in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game were auctioned by the NBA and NBPA to raise funds for charity; LeBron James' jersey sold for $630,000, setting a record for a modern-day sports jersey.

In March 2008, LeBron 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, when he posed with Gisele Bundchen.

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.

The school officially opened on July 30,2018, with LeBron James reflecting that it was his most important professional accomplishment.

LeBron James's statement drew backlash from protesters in the movement, with many taking to social media to use racist language against him.

LeBron James had taken various other stands on issues regarding sports, such as the Kaepernick controversy and the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal.

In October 2023, in response to the Gaza war, LeBron James voiced his support for Israel on Instagram.

In June 2008, LeBron James donated $20,000 to a committee in support of Barack Obama for the 2008 US presidential election.

Later that year, LeBron James gathered almost 20,000 people at the then-called Quicken Loans Arena for a viewing of Obama's 30-minute American Stories, American Solutions television advertisement.

In November 2016, LeBron James endorsed and campaigned for Hillary Clinton for the 2016 US presidential election.

LeBron James made LeBron look smart, which isn't easy to do.

On October 31,2024, LeBron James announced his support for the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign in the 2024 US presidential election in a video posted on social media.

James' biography LeBron was published on April 11,2023, by Jeff Benedict.

In 2011, Fenway Sports Group became the sole global marketer of his rights, and as part of the deal, LeBron James was granted a minority stake in the English Premier League football club Liverpool, who he has claimed his support for.

In 2015, LeBron James was ranked the sixth highest earning sportsperson, and third highest in 2016.

LeBron James has stated that he would like to own an NBA team in the future, albeit in a hands-off capacity.

In 2011, LeBron James co-founded the designer retail store UNKNWN in Miami, Florida.

LeBron James has tried his hand at acting, appearing in a cameo role on the HBO series Entourage.

In 2016, CNBC aired an unscripted series hosted by LeBron James called Cleveland Hustles, where four up-and-coming Northern Ohio entrepreneurs will be financed on the condition of revitalizing a neighborhood in Cleveland.

Later that month, Fox News host Laura Ingraham told LeBron James to "shut up and dribble" as a response to his political agendas.

LeBron James partnered with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2018 to found Ladder, a company that developed nutritional supplements to help athletes with severe cramps after dealing with that issue during the 2014 Finals.

In June 2022, it was announced LeBron James was launching a media company in partnership with professional tennis player Naomi Osaka and Maverick Carter.

LeBron James later became a spokesman for the company and began appearing in advertisements after ending his contract with McDonald's.

In November 2020, LeBron James became an angel investor of the tequila and mezcal company Lobos 1707.

That same year, LeBron 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 FC, the latter of which he already owned a two-percent share in individually.

LeBron 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 or relocation.

LeBron James is a part owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.

LeBron James is represented by agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports.

LRMR handles LeBron James's marketing, including the marketing of The Decision, for which it was criticized.