Andrew Pace
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player widely considered one of the greatest players of all time. Nicknamed King James, he is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and has won four NBA championships from 10 NBA Finals appearances. James was born in 1984 in Akron, Ohio, and became a locally known basketball prodigy while in elementary school. During his high school years, James was named Ohio's Mr. Basketball three times. He was first named Ohio Mr. Basketball in 2001, and went on to win the title again in 2002 and 2003.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year LeBron James won his 3rd Mr. Basketball | 2003 |
| School | St. Vincent–St. Mary High School |
| State | Ohio |
| Average points | 30.4 |
| Average rebounds | 9.7 |
| Average assists | 4.9 |
| Average steals | 2.9 |
| Awards | Ohio Mr. Basketball, USA Today All-USA First Team, Gatorade National Player of the Year |
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What You'll Learn
LeBron James' high school career
LeBron Raymone James Sr., nicknamed "King James", is an American professional basketball player widely considered one of the greatest players of all time. He was born in Akron, Ohio, on December 30, 1984, to Gloria Marie James, who was only 16 at the time, and Anthony McClelland, who had an extensive criminal record and was not involved in his life.
James grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and was a locally known basketball prodigy while in elementary school. He attended St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in Akron, where he played basketball and was a member of the Fighting Irish football team in his freshman, sophomore, and junior years.
As a 6-foot-2-inch (1.88 m) tall freshman, James averaged 18 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for the St. Vincent–St. Mary varsity basketball team. The Fighting Irish went 27–0 en route to the Division III state title, making them the only boys' high school team in Ohio to finish the season undefeated. As a sophomore, James averaged 25.3 points and 7.4 rebounds, along with 5.5 assists and 3.7 steals per game. The Fighting Irish finished the season 26–1 and repeated as state champions. For his outstanding play, James was named Ohio Mr. Basketball and selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team, becoming the first sophomore to do either.
During the summer before his junior year, James was featured in Slam magazine, with writer Ryan Jones calling the 16-year-old, who had grown to 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m), " [possibly] the best high school basketball player in America right now". During the season, James also appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, becoming the first high school basketball underclassman to do so. With averages of 28 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals per game, he was again named Ohio Mr. Basketball and selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team, and became the first junior to be named male basketball Gatorade National Player of the Year. St. Vincent–St. Mary finished the year with a 23–4 record, ending their season with a loss in the Division II championship game.
Throughout his senior year, James and the Fighting Irish traveled across the country to play several nationally ranked teams, including a nationally televised game on December 12, 2002, against Oak Hill Academy. For the year, James averaged 30.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2.9 steals per game, was named Ohio Mr. Basketball and selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team for an unprecedented third consecutive year, and was named Gatorade National Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. He participated in three year-end high school basketball all-star games: the EA Sports Roundball Classic, the Jordan Brand Capital Classic, and the McDonald's All-American Game.
James graduated from St. Vincent–St. Mary in 2003, having spent four memorable years playing basketball and winning three state championships and one national championship under the leadership of Coach Dru Joyce. He was selected first overall in the 2003 National Basketball Association draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers and immediately entered the NBA.
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His NBA career
LeBron Raymone James Sr., nicknamed "King James", is an American professional basketball player widely considered one of the greatest players of all time. He has played in the NBA for 22 seasons and is the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
James was selected first overall in the 2003 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he played until the end of the 2009-10 season. In 2007, he made his first NBA Finals appearance with the Cavaliers, but they lost to the San Antonio Spurs. In the summer of 2010, James joined the Miami Heat, forming a Big 3 with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. During his time with the Heat, they went to four straight NBA Finals, winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.
James returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 and went to four straight NBA Finals again from 2015 to 2018. In 2016, he won his third NBA championship with the Cavaliers. In the summer of 2018, James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping them win their 17th NBA Championship in 2020, his fourth championship personally. In 2023, he became the NBA's all-time leading scorer, breaking the record previously held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
James has made ten NBA Finals appearances, winning four championships. In addition to ranking fourth in NBA career assists and sixth in NBA career steals, he holds several individual honours, including four NBA MVP awards, four Finals MVP awards, the Rookie of the Year award, three All-Star Game MVP awards, and the inaugural NBA Cup MVP. He has been a 21-time NBA All-Star and a 20-time All-NBA selection.
James has also represented the United States in Olympic basketball, winning three gold medals (in 2008, 2012, and 2024) and a bronze medal (in 2004). He is one of two players in NBA history to win at least two NBA Most Valuable Player Awards for two different franchises, and one of two players to win an NBA MVP, Finals MVP, and an Olympic gold medal in the same year.
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International basketball achievements
LeBron Raymone James Sr., born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and has won four NBA championships from 10 NBA Finals appearances.
Aside from his achievements in the NBA, James has also represented the United States in international basketball competitions as a member of the US men's Olympic basketball team. Here are some of his international basketball achievements:
- Athens 2004 Olympic Games: In his first Olympic appearance, James earned a bronze medal as a key young player on the roster. During this tournament, he averaged 5.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game.
- Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: James played a pivotal role in leading Team USA to a gold medal. He averaged 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game during this tournament.
- London 2012 Olympic Games: James contributed to Team USA's gold medal victory once more, showcasing his all-around play in the final game against Spain. Throughout the tournament, he maintained impressive averages of 13.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game.
- Paris 2024 Olympic Games: After a hiatus from Olympic competition, James returned to lead the US men's basketball team to a fifth consecutive gold medal. He was named the tournament's MVP, capping off his impressive international career.
In addition to his four Olympic medals (three gold and one bronze), James has established himself as a cornerstone of Team USA basketball, with his size, skill, and leadership making him an invaluable asset in international competitions.
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Awards and honours
LeBron James has won numerous awards and honours throughout his career. James was named Ohio Mr. Basketball three times during his high school career, in 2001, 2002, and 2003. He was also selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team for three consecutive years. In 2003, James was selected first overall in the National Basketball Association (NBA) draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James has since become a four-time NBA champion, winning his first two championships with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, his third with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, and his fourth with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. He has also won the NBA Cup with the Lakers in 2023. James holds several individual honours, including four NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, four Finals MVP awards, the Rookie of the Year award, three All-Star Game MVP awards, the inaugural NBA Cup MVP, and the Olympics MVP in the 2024 Summer Olympics. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and has made the most All-Star Game appearances in NBA history, with 21 selections.
In addition to his NBA achievements, James has won three Olympic gold medals as a member of the U.S. national team. He won bronze in 2004, gold in 2008, and gold again in 2012. After a 12-year gap, James returned to the national team for the 2024 Paris Games, leading the U.S. team to a fifth consecutive gold medal and being named the tournament's MVP. James is also the only player in NBA history to have at least 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists.
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His life and career off the court
LeBron Raymone James Sr., nicknamed "King James", is an American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and has won four NBA championships from 10 NBA Finals appearances. Outside of basketball, James has had a successful career as an actor, author, and businessman.
James made his acting debut in 2015, appearing as himself in Judd Apatow's comedy Trainwreck. In 2021, he starred in the live-action/animated film Space Jam: A New Legacy. James has also made cameos in TV shows, such as Entourage. In addition to his acting career, James has published a memoir, Shooting Stars (2009), which he co-wrote with Buzz Bissinger. The book chronicles his years as a high-school basketball standout.
As a businessman, James has been involved in numerous projects off the court. He co-founded a media and entertainment company, SpringHill Entertainment, and a digital video company, Uninterrupted. In addition, he owns a designer retail store and has bought stakes in professional baseball and soccer franchises, including becoming a part-owner of Liverpool F.C. and the Boston Red Sox. James's net worth is estimated to be above $1 billion, thanks to his business ventures and product endorsements.
However, James is also known for his philanthropic work through his charitable foundation, the LeBron James Family Foundation. Established in 2004, just one year after he was drafted into the NBA, the foundation focuses on creating "generational change" for children and families in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The foundation has opened an elementary school, a housing complex, a retail plaza, and a medical centre in Akron. James has expressed that his off-court achievement that he is most proud of is working to uplift the lives of people in his community.
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Frequently asked questions
LeBron James won his first Mr. Basketball title in 2001.
LeBron James won his second Mr. Basketball title in 2002.
LeBron James won his third Mr. Basketball title in 2003.
