LeBron James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA ¹. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, often compared to Michael Jordan in debates about who is the greatest basketball player of all time ¹.

Early Life and High School Career

James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, to Gloria Marie James ¹. His father, Anthony McClelland, has an extensive criminal record and was not involved in his life ¹. When 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 his mother struggled to find steady work ¹.

Realizing that her son would be better off in a more stable family environment, Gloria allowed James to move in with the family of Frank Walker, a local youth football coach who introduced James to basketball ¹. James began playing organized basketball in the fifth grade and later played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars ¹.

Professional Career

James was selected by his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft ¹. He became the first Cavalier to receive the NBA Rookie of the Year Award ¹. In the 2004–2005 season, James earned his first NBA All-Star Game selection ¹.

James left the Cavaliers in 2010 as a free agent and joined the Miami Heat ¹. He won his first two NBA championships while playing for the Heat in 2012 and 2013; in both of these years, he also earned the league’s MVP and Finals MVP awards ¹. After his fourth season with the Heat in 2014, James opted out of his contract and re-signed with the Cavaliers ¹. In 2016, he led the Cavaliers to victory over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, delivering the team’s first championship and ending the Cleveland sports curse ¹. In 2018, James exercised his contract option to leave the Cavaliers and signed with the Lakers, where he won the 2020 NBA championship and his fourth Finals MVP ¹.

Achievements and Legacy

James is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history and ranks fourth in career assists ¹. He has won four Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, four Finals MVP Awards, three All-Star Game MVP Awards, and was named the inaugural NBA Cup MVP ¹. He has been named an All-Star a record 20 times, selected to the All-NBA Team 20 times, and the All-Defensive Team six times ¹. He was a runner-up for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award twice in his career ¹.

Off the court, James has earned more wealth and fame from numerous endorsement contracts ¹. He is the first player in NBA history to accumulate $1 billion in earnings as an active player ¹. He has been featured in books, documentaries (including winning three Sports Emmy Awards as an executive producer), and television commercials ¹. He was among Time’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2005, 2013, 2017, and 2019 ¹. James has won 20 ESPY Awards, hosted Saturday Night Live in 2021, and starred in the sports film Space Jam: A New Legacy ¹. He has been a part-owner of Liverpool F.C. since 2011 and leads the LeBron James Family Foundation, which has opened an elementary school, housing complex, retail plaza, and medical center in Akron ¹.