LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James (born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers. A 4× NBA Champion, 4× MVP, and 4× Finals MVP, he is the NBA's all-time leading scorer in both regular season and playoff history. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Personal Information
Biography
LeBron Raymone James was born on December 30, 1984, at Summa Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio. His mother, Gloria Marie James, was just 16 years old at the time of his birth. His father, Anthony McClelland, had a criminal record and was entirely absent from LeBron's life. For the first few years, he and his mother shared a family home in Akron, but after his grandmother's death the city condemned and bulldozed it — LeBron was just five years old. For the next three years, he and his mother moved repeatedly, and in fourth grade he missed nearly a hundred days of school because he had no means to get there. A local youth football coach named Frank Walker took LeBron in, gave him stability, and introduced him to basketball. LeBron James married his longtime girlfriend, Savannah James (formerly Savannah Brinson), on September 14, 2013. They have two sons, Bronny James and Bryce James, and a daughter, Zhuri James.
LeBron James began playing organized basketball in fifth grade and quickly developed into a national phenomenon. He attended St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in Akron, leading the team to three state championships in four years and earning Ohio Mr. Basketball three consecutive times. In his senior year, James averaged 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.4 steals per game, and was named Gatorade National Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Over his high school career, he scored 2,657 total points. He entered the NBA directly from high school and was selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft. In his first NBA game, the 18-year-old scored 25 points, grabbed six rebounds, and recorded nine assists, setting a then-NBA record for the most points scored in a debut by a prep-to-pro player.
LeBron played for three NBA franchises during his career — the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers. He won four NBA Most Valuable Player awards (2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013) and four NBA championships, earning Finals MVP honors each time — with Miami in 2012 and 2013, Cleveland in 2016, and Los Angeles in 2020. He became the first player in NBA history to win Finals MVP with three different franchises. Internationally, James represented the United States men's national basketball team in four Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in 2004 and gold medals in 2008, 2012, and 2024. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, he was named the Olympic men’s basketball tournament MVP.
In February 2023, LeBron surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of 38,387 points to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer in regular season history, and on March 3, 2024, he became the first player in NBA history to reach 40,000 career points. He is also the all-time leader in playoff scoring history. He also became the first player in NBA history to record at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 assists. Across 23 NBA seasons, he maintained career averages of approximately 27.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. Off the court, he founded the LeBron James Family Foundation in 2004 to support children and families in need. In 2024, LeBron and his son Bronny James became the first father-son duo in NBA history to play together on the same team for the Los Angeles Lakers.
FAQs About LeBron James :
Q: Is LeBron James a Christian?
A: Yes. LeBron was raised in a Christian/Catholic household, attended St. Vincent–St. Mary Catholic High School, and has publicly referenced his faith in Jesus Christ multiple times throughout his career.
Q: Did LeBron James announce his retirement?
A: No — LeBron James has NOT officially announced his retirement.
Q: Is LeBron James playing tonight?
A: LeBron is currently active with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Visit NBA.com for the latest schedule and game status.
Q: What college did LeBron James go to?
A: None. LeBron James did not attend any college.
Q: What size shoe does LeBron James wear?
A: LeBron wears a US men's size 15 (UK 14 / EU 49–50).
Q: What position did LeBron James play?
A: LeBron is officially listed as a Small Forward but is widely known as a Point Forward due to his ability to handle and direct the offense like a guard.
Q: How fast is LeBron James?
A: His recorded top speed via SportVU tracking is 18.1 mph. During his iconic 2016 Finals chase-down block, he reached 20.1 mph.
Q: How many games has LeBron James missed in his career?
A: As of 2026, LeBron James has missed a total of approximately 225 regular-season games across his 23-year career.
Career Timeline
Drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers out of St. Vincent–St. Mary High School, Akron, Ohio. Same draft class as Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade.
Scored 25 points in his first regular season game vs. Sacramento Kings — an NBA record for most points by a prep-to-pro player in a debut performance.
First Cavalier ever to win the award. Only the third rookie in league history to average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game in a single season.
Made his Olympic debut at Athens 2004. Team USA finished with bronze — the first U.S. team to fail to win gold since NBA players were added to the roster.
Carried the Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA Finals, including a legendary Game 5 performance against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Key member of the "Redeem Team." Averaged 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game as Team USA reclaimed Olympic gold.
Named NBA MVP for the 2008–09 season — the first of four career MVP awards.
Won his second straight NBA MVP before signing with the Miami Heat alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Won his first NBA title with the Miami Heat, earning Finals MVP honors.
Helped Team USA win back-to-back Olympic gold. Recorded the first triple-double in U.S. Olympic basketball history — 11 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists vs. Australia.
Repeated as NBA Champion and Finals MVP with Miami, winning Game 7 against the San Antonio Spurs.
Delivered Cleveland its first-ever championship, coming back from 3-1 down vs. Golden State Warriors. His chase-down block on Andre Iguodala in Game 7 with 1:50 remaining is documented by NBA.com as one of the most clutch defensive plays in NBA Finals history.
Led the Los Angeles Lakers to the 2020 NBA title. Became the first player in NBA history to win Finals MVP with three different franchises.
On February 7, 2023, surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of 38,387 points to become the NBA's all-time career scoring leader — a record that had stood for nearly 40 years.
Became the first player in NBA history to reach 40,000 regular season career points.
Won his third Olympic gold medal at Paris 2024. Named tournament MVP, averaging 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game as Team USA went a perfect 6-0.
LeBron and his son Bronny James became the first father-son duo in NBA history to play together on the same team — the Los Angeles Lakers.
On September 6, 2025, inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic "Redeem Team." Not yet eligible for individual induction, which requires full retirement.