LeBron James Biography Facts, Childhood & Personal Life

LeBron James Biography Facts, Childhood & Personal Life
LeBron James' biography, career accomplishments and life. Photo: Wikimedia

LeBron James, popularly known by his nickname ‘King James’ is an American professional basketball player.

LeBron, who is often considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, made his National Basketball Association (NBA) début in 2003 and became a star right after skipping college to join Cleveland Cavaliers.

He now plays in the NBA for Los Angeles Lakers.

LeBron is generally considered the “face of NBA” and the best basketball player globally.

This article on LeBron James’ biography facts, childhood, and personal life brings you a notable account from his early life to date.

Other highlights include his NBA/Basketball career, achievements and awards, famous quotes plus other on-screen and off-screen facts about his life.

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LeBron James Biography Facts & Profile

Full Name:LeBron Raymone James
Nickname:King James
Born:December 30, 1984 (age 39 years)
Place of Birth:Akron, Ohio, United States of America
Nationality:American
Height:6 feet, 8 inches
Shoe Size:15
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Education:St. Vincent-St. Mary High School
Parents:Gloria Marie James (Mother), Anthony McClelland (Father)*
Spouse:Savannah Brinson (September 14, 2013) (3 Children)
Children:LeBron Jr (Son), Bryce Maximus James (Son), Zhuri James (Daughter)
Occupation:Basketball Player
Current Team:Los Angeles Lakers
Playing Career:2003 – present
Zodiac Sign:Capricorn

LeBron James Childhood & Early Life

LeBron James Childhood Photo
Early childhood photo of LeBron James. @kingjames/Instagram

LeBron Raymond James was born on the 30th of December, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, the United States, to his mother, Gloria Marie James, and father, Anthony McClelland.

Gloria had him at the age of 16.

Anthony was an ex-convict with countless criminal records and, as such, was not interested and involved in their life.

Gloria was left with no other choice but struggled and raised James on her own.

When she realized that it would be better for her son to grow in a stable home, she let him live with Frank Walker and his family.

LeBron, who has always enjoyed the game of basketball since childhood, was, at the age of nine, introduced to an organized basketball game by Frank.

He played for Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball.

LeBron and his friends who led the team to enjoy success at both local and national level stirred controversy when they chose to attend St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, mainly a white private school instead of their local public school.

LeBron James showcased a natural talent for the game of basketball and was then recruited in 1999 by St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to join their basketball team.

During his senior year, he was named Ohio Mr. Basketball and was selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team for two consecutive years.

He was also the first Junior to be named Gatorade National Player of the Year in boys’ basketball.

LeBron James Basketball Career

Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010)

James was the player to make the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft due to his outstanding statistics.

He played for the Cavaliers from 2003–2010.

James proved himself to be a valuable addition to his hometown team, and at the end of his first regular season, he was named the ‘NBA Rookie of the Year’.

He was the first Cavalier to receive this award finishing with an average of 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game.

James was also the youngest player at the age of 20 to receive this award.

These accomplishments undoubtedly placed him in the same class as Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson.

In 2005, James made history when he became the youngest player ever to score more than 50 points in a game.

James maintained an outstanding performance during the 2007–2008 season, scoring an average of 30 points per game.

This placed him ahead of rival star players such as Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson.

On July 1, 2010, James became a free agent.

Miami Heat (2010–2014)

LeBron James NBA Career with Miami Heat
LeBron James with the Miami Heat in 2013. Wikimedia

On July 8, 2010, James announced that he would sign with Miami Heat for the 2010–2011 season.

His announcement drew intense criticisms from fans and sports segments.

Many considered his decision a betrayal to his hometown and team.

Shortly after he departed from the Cavaliers, owner Dan Gilbert wrote an open letter aggressively denouncing James’ decision.

As a result of his actions, he gained a reputation as one of America’s most disliked athletes at the time.

Unperturbed with these happenings, James finished second during his first season in the league with the Heat, scoring an average of 26.7 points per game.

During the 2011–2012 season, James and his team had a major breakthrough.

The NBA star finally earned his first title when the Heat defeated Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals, scoring 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists.

At 28 years old, King James made NBA history when he became the youngest player to score 20,000 points, coming after Kobe Bryant of the Lakers, who achieved this at 29.

He became the 38th player in the history of the NBA to meet this feat.

The Heat saw yet another success during the 2012–2013 season, winning its second NBA championship consecutively.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2014–2018)

LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers 2014
LeBron James with Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014. Wikimedia.

At the end of his contract with the Heat, James announced in July 2014 that he would be returning to his hometown team, Cleveland Cavaliers.

Precisely on July 12, 2014, he officially signed with the Cavaliers.

James, who was hampered by a left knee and lower back injuries, missed 13 out of 82 season games in the 2014–2015 season.

However, he dominated with an average of 25.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game.

James and his team got to the NBA Finals, making him the first player in about 50 years to reach the championship in five seasons consecutively.

Due to his teammates Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, his hopes of claiming a third title were impaired due to injuries suffered by his teammates.

During the 2015–2016 season, James led his team to win the city’s first professional sports title in 52 years, breaking the Cleveland Sports Curse.

The Cavaliers made history when they became the first team to come back from a 3–1 series shortfall in the NBA Finals.

His outstanding performance led him to be voted the Finals MVP.

During the 2017–2018 NBA season, James was sent out for the first time in his 1,082 career appearances for yelling at a referee.

Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present)

LeBron James with the Lakers
LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. Wikimedia.

On June 29, 2018, King James terminated his contract with the Cavaliers and became a free agent.

On July 1, he announced his decision to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, a process which was completed on July 9.

Public reactions this time around to his announcement was more approving, considering the controversies that surrounded his first departure from the Cavaliers in 2010.

In the 2019–2020 NBA season, James won his fourth NBA championship and also the fourth NBA Finals MVP Award.

Lakers defeated Miami Heat in game six to clinch the championship.

James became the oldest player in the league to win the award the age of 35, and also, the only player in the NBA to win the award with three different teams.

Olympics (2004, 2008 & 20012)

LeBron James Olympic début was in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece, with the U.S. Olympic basketball team.

James and his team defeated Lithuania and won bronze medals.

During the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, James and his U.S. team defeated Spain in the finals and won gold medals.

The team included star players like Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and Jason Kidd.

James won his second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

The team included star players like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Carmelo Anthony.

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LeBron James Personal Life

Wife & Children

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

Together, they have three children:

  • LeBron James Jr. (son, born on October 2004)
  • Bryce Maximus James (son, born on June 14, 2007)
  • Zhuri Nova James (daughter, born on October 22, 2014)

Other Facts & Trivia

In 2014, James was named the most powerful athlete in the world by Forbes.

Apple bought Beats Electronics for $3 billion in June 2014.

James, who owned a very small stake in the venture, reportedly netted around $30 million in stocks and cash.

On January 23, 2018, at the age of 33, LeBron James became the youngest player to score 30,000 points in NBA history.

He is the seventh player to meet this feat in NBA history.

The other six players who have achieved topped 30,000 points are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, and Dirk Nowitzki.

James is a known activist.

He runs a non-profit organization known as The Lebron James Family Foundation.

The foundation, which is based in Akron, helps children in his hometown area.

In July 2018, his foundation teamed up with the Akron Public Schools to start an elementary school that supports children at-risk.

James has a half brother named Aaron McClelland Gamble.

They are both sons of Anthony McClelland.

Anthony also abandoned Aaron with his mother just from childhood, just like he did with LeBron’s mother.

Lebron's iPromise School
kingjames @ipromiseschool #WeAreFamily #MoreThanAnAthlete via Instagram @kingjames

LeBron James Highlights, Achievements & Awards

  1. 4-times NBA champion (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)
  2. 4-times NBA Finals MVP (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020)
  3. 4-times NBA Most Valuable Player (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013)
  4. 16-times NBA All-Star (2005–2020)
  5. 3-times NBA All-Star Game MVP (2006, 2008, 2018)
  6. 13-times All-NBA First Team (2006, 2008–2018, 2020)
  7. 2-times All-NBA Second Team (2005, 2007)
  8. All-NBA Third Team (2019)
  9. 5-times NBA All-Defensive First Team (2009–2013)
  10. NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2014)
  11. NBA Rookie of the Year (2004)
  12. NBA All-Rookie First Team (2004)
  13. NBA scoring champion (2008)
  14. NBA assists leader (2020)
  15. J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2017)
  16. 3-times AP Athlete of the Year (2013, 2016, 2018)
  17. 3-times Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year (2012, 2016, 2020)
  18. Time Athlete of the Year (2020)
  19. USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2012)
  20. 2-times Mr. Basketball USA (2002, 2003)
  21. Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2003)
  22. McDonald’s All-American Game MVP (2003)
  23. 2-times Gatorade Player of the Year (2002, 2003)
  24. 2-times First-team Parade All-American (2002, 2003)
  25. 3-times Ohio Mr. Basketball (2001–2003)

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LeBron James Famous Quotes

“Sports carried me away from being in a gang, or being associated with drugs. Sports was my way out.”

— LeBron James

“I’m never in a defer mentality. I’m in attack mode. No matter how many weapons we have on the court, I’m still going to play my game.”

— LeBron James

“You can’t be afraid to fail. It’s the only way you succeed – you’re not gonna succeed all the time, and I know that.”

— LeBron James

“We all prepare differently, but there’s just one basketball on that court.”

— LeBron James

“I don’t judge my career by saying I want to be better than this person or that person at the end of my career because it’s not possible. The only person on and off the court to satisfy is me.”

— LeBron James

“Warren Buffet told me once and he said always follow your gut. When you have that gut feeling, you have to go with don’t go back on it.”

— LeBron James

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2 Comments

  1. Ryan April 26, 2020
    • Sam June 4, 2020

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