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*[[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|NBA Rookie of the Year]] ({{nbay|2003|end}})
*[[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|NBA Rookie of the Year]] ({{nbay|2003|end}})
*[[NBA All-Rookie Team|NBA All-Rookie First Team]] ({{nbay|2003|end}})
*[[NBA All-Rookie Team|NBA All-Rookie First Team]] ({{nbay|2003|end}})
*[[Cleveland Cavaliers|Cleveland Cavaliers all-time leading scorer]]
*[[Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award|Naismith Prep Player of the Year]] (2003)
*[[Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award|Naismith Prep Player of the Year]] (2003)
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Revision as of 00:56, 19 August 2012

"LeBron" redirects here. For other uses, see Lebron (disambiguation).

LeBron James
LeBron James with the Miami Heat in 2011
No. 6 – Miami Heat
PositionSmall forward
Personal information
Born (1984-12-30) December 30, 1984 (age 39)
Akron, Ohio, United States
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High schoolSt. Vincent – St. Mary High School
NBA draft2003: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Playing career2003–present
Career history
2003–2010Cleveland Cavaliers
2010–presentMiami Heat
Career highlights and awards
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2012 London Men's basketball
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing Men's basketball
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Athens Men's basketball
FIBA World Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Japan Men's basketball
FIBA Americas Championship
Gold medal – first place 2007 Las Vegas Men's basketball

LeBron Raymone James (/ləˈbrɒn/; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) small forward, he is an NBA champion, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP), three-time NBA MVP, and NBA Rookie of the Year. One of Miami's co-captains along with Dwyane Wade, he is an eight-time NBA All-Star and has earned eight All-NBA honors and four All-Defensive honors.

Nicknamed "King James", James had a storied high school basketball career at St. Vincent – St. Mary High School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. A three-time "Mr. Basketball of Ohio", he was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar. After graduating, he was selected with the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2010, he left the Cavaliers for the Heat in a highly publicized free agency period. In 2012, he led Miami to their second ever NBA title, winning his first overall. His list of achievements and leadership during the Heats' 2012 championship run have led many basketball analysts, experts, and writers to consider him the best player in the NBA today.[1][2][3]

Off the court, James has accumulated considerable wealth and fame as a result of numerous endorsement contracts. His public life has been the subject of much scrutiny, and he has been ranked as one of America's most disliked and influential athletes. Having shown a passion for entertainment, he has been featured in books, documentaries, and television commercials, and has hosted the ESPY Awards and Saturday Night Live.

Early life

Childhood and youth

James was born on December 30, 1984 in Akron, Ohio, to a 16-year-old mother, Gloria Marie James.[4] His biological father, Anthony McClelland, was an ex-convict who left Gloria to raise LeBron by herself. Growing up, life was often a struggle for James and his mother. The two moved around frequently as Gloria was never able to land steady work, and her taste in men was often questionable, with one of them, Eddie Jackson, going to prison in 1990 for aggravated cocaine trafficking. Embarrassed by his home life, James didn't make friends easily at school and had all but dropped out by the fourth grade.

James used sports as an outlet to take out his frustrations, favoring basketball and football. In his first year of Pee-Wee Football, he formed a bond with his coach Frankie Walker, who arranged with Gloria for James to live with the Walkers to stabilize James' living environment. The structure of the Walker household worked wonders for James, who began attending school regularly again. After 18 months of living with the Walkers, Gloria took James back before financial problems arose and she returned him back to the Walkers. For the remainder of James' high school career, he could always call the Walkers' house home no matter where he lived. While James was with the Walkers, he became close friends with three boys: Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, and Willie McGee.[4] Inseparable, they played AAU basketball together, winning the 1999 AAU National Championship Tournament and dubbing themselves the "Fab Four".[5] The group stirred local controversy when they chose to attend high school at St. Vincent-St. Mary, a largely white school, instead of their local public school. During their sophomore year, they added a final member to their group named Romeo Travis.[6] Nicknamed the "Akron Fab Five", their friendship later became the subject of a documentary titled More Than a Game.[7]

High school career

At St. Vincent–St. Mary, James starred as a two-sport athlete, playing basketball and football. A distinguished wide receiver, he was named first-team all-state in his sophomore year and led the Fighting Irish to the state semifinals in his junior year.[8] His football career came to an end before his senior year when he broke his wrist during an AAU basketball game.[9] Many sports analysts, football critics, and former and current players have speculated on whether he could have played in the NFL.[10]

James was a starter for St. Vincent-St. Mary's varsity basketball team from day one. During his freshman year, he averaged 21 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, eventually leading the Irish to the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division III state title. The next year, he upped his averages to 25.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, while also contributing 5.8 assists and 3.8 steals per game.[8] The Irish finished the season 26–1 and repeated as state champions. For his outstanding play, James was named Ohio's Mr. Basketball and was selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team, becoming the first ever sophomore to do either.[11]

James' junior year saw him gain national attention. Prior to the start of the season, he appeared in SLAM Magazine and was lauded as possibly "the best high school basketball player in America right now" by writer Ryan Jones.[12] With averages of 29 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 3.3 steals per game, he was again named Ohio's Mr. Basketball and selected to the All-USA First Team. Additionally, he was named the 2001–02 boys' basketball Gatorade National Player of the Year. Regardless, St. Vincent-St. Mary did not defend its state championship from the year before, losing to Roger Bacon High School in the OHSAA Division II championship game. Following the loss, James seriously considered declaring for the 2002 NBA Draft, petitioning for an adjustment to the NBA's draft eligibility rules which required prospective players to have at least graduated from high school.[13] Although the petition was unsuccessful, it only further raised his exposure. During this time, James experimented with marijuana to help cope with stress resulting from the constant media attention he was receiving.[14][15][16][17]

By the time James' senior year began, he had already appeared on the covers of ESPN The Magazine and Sports Illustrated. As his following expanded, St. Vincent-St. Mary was forced to move their games and practices to James A. Rhodes Arena at the University of Akron.[18] The Irish's regular season games were frequently attended by celebrities such as Shaquille O'Neal, with some being televised nationally on ESPN2 and regionally on pay-per-view.[19] For the season, James averaged 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.4 steals per game.[11] He was named Ohio's Mr. Basketball and selected to the All-USA First Team for an unprecedented third consecutive year. He participated in three year-end high school basketball all-star games – the EA Sports Roundball Classic, the Jordan Capital Classic, and the 2003 McDonald's All-American Game -, losing his NCAA eligibility and making it official he would enter the 2003 NBA Draft.[20] James finished his high school basketball career with 2,657 points, 892 rebounds, and 523 assists.[11] On January 31, 2012, he was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans.[21]

Despite his accomplishments, James' senior year was a tumultuous one. For his 18th birthday, he accepted a Hummer H2 from his mother Gloria, who secured a loan for the vehicle utilizing LeBron's future earning power as a professional athlete.[22] This prompted an investigation by the OHSAA because under their guidelines, no amateur may accept any gift valued over $100 as a reward for athletic performance.[23] Later in the season, James accepted two throwback jerseys worth $845 from an urban clothing store in exchange for his posing for pictures, officially violating OHSAA rules and resulting in him being stripped of his high school sports eligibility.[23] James appealed the ruling and his penalty was eventually dropped to a two game suspension, allowing him to play the remainder of the season. The Irish were also forced to forfeit one of their wins, their only official loss that season.[24]

NBA career

Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010)

Rookie season

James was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the number one overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. In his first professional game he recorded 25 points, setting an NBA record for most points scored by a prep-to-pro player in his debut outing.[25] He also added 9 assists, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals on 60 percent shooting. Originally, he was scheduled to compete in the 2004 Slam Dunk Contest but was forced to withdraw because of an ankle injury.[26] In a late season match-up with the New Jersey Nets, he scored a season-high 41 points, becoming the youngest player in league history at 19 years old to score at least 40 points in a game.[27] James was eventually named the 2003–04 NBA Rookie of the Year, finishing with averages of 20.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game.[28] He also became the first Cavalier to receive the honor and joined Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game in their rookie season (Tyreke Evans has since joined this group). Despite James' award-worthy play and an 18-game improvement over the previous season, Cleveland failed to make the the playoffs.[29]

2004–05 season

The Cavaliers played well to start the 2004–05 season, entering the All-Star break with a 30–20 record.[30] During that time, James established himself as the team's leader with a string of notable performances. On January 19, he recorded his first ever triple-double, becoming the youngest player in league history to do so.[31][28] His strong play earned him his first NBA All-Star Game selection, where he added 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in a winning effort for the Eastern Conference.[32] On March 20, James scored a career-high 56 points against the Toronto Raptors, smashing Cleveland's previous single game points record.[30] With averages of 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 2.2 steals per game to finish the season, at the age of 20 he became the youngest player in league history to be named to an All-NBA Team, being elected to the All-NBA Second Team.[8] Despite their strong start, Cleveland again failed to make the playoffs, finishing the year with a 42–40 record.[33]

2005–06 season

In the 2005–06 season, James established himself as one of the NBA's elite players. At the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, he led the East to victory with a 29 point, 6 rebound, 2 assist performance. For his efforts, he was crowned All-Star MVP, the youngest ever winner of the award at 21 years, 51 days.[34] Throughout the year, he scored the basketball at a historic level, including nine straight games with 35 points or more, becoming just the third player since Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant to do so.[35] He ended the season with averages of 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to average at least 30 points per game and the fourth player in league history to average more than 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists per game in a single season.[28][36] Additionally, he concluded the year with five NBA Player of the Week honors including an unprecedented three in a row for the weeks beginning March 19, 26, and April 2 respectively.[35][37] He was considered a strong candidate for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award but eventually finished second in the voting to Steve Nash; however, he was awarded co-MVP honors with Nash by The Sporting News.[38]

Under James' leadership, the Cavaliers qualified for the the playoffs for the first time since 1998,[39] improving their record by 33 wins from three years prior.[40] In his playoff debut, he recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in a winning effort versus the Washington Wizards.[41] He joined Johnny McCarthy and Magic Johnson as the only players in NBA history to register a triple-double in their playoff debut.[41] For the series, James averaged 35.7 points per game and Cleveland defeated the Wizards in six games.[42] In the next round, the Cavaliers were ousted by the defending Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons. James' final playoff averages were 30.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.[28]

After the playoffs, James and the Cavaliers negotiated a three-year contract extension with a player option for a fourth year. The contract was worth $60 million and began at the start of the 2007–08 season.[43] Although it was for fewer years and less money than the maximum he could sign, it allowed him the option of seeking a new contract worth more money as an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season.[43] He had discussed this with fellow members of his 2003 draft class Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who also re-signed with their respective teams while allowing them to be unrestricted agents in 2010.[44]

2006–07 season

James at the free throw line in April 2007 as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James was elected to his third consecutive All-Star Game in the 2006–07 season. For the year, he averaged 27.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, joining Robertson as one of two players in NBA history to average at least 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists per game for three consecutive years.[8][45] The Cavaliers again finished the year with 50 wins and entered the playoffs as the Eastern Conference's second seed.[46] In the first round, Cleveland defeated the Wizards for the second straight season, sweeping them in four games.[47] For the series, James averaged 27.8 points, 7.5 assists, and 8.5 rebounds per game.[28] In the second round, James averaged 25.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game, leading the Cavaliers past the Nets in six games.[48][48] In the Eastern Conference Finals, Cleveland faced the Pistons in a rematch from the year before. They quickly fell into an 0–2 hole but won the next two games to tie the series at 2–2. In Game 5, James had one of the greatest playoff performances in league history.[49] He managed a franchise record 48 points on 54.5 percent shooting to go with 9 rebounds and 7 assists, and scored 29 of the Cavaliers' last 30 points including the game-winning lay-up with two seconds left.[50] After the game, play-by-play announcer Marv Albert called the performance "one of the greatest moments in postseason history" and color commentator Steve Kerr called it "Jordan-esque."[51] Cleveland won the series but sputtered in the Finals versus San Antonio, losing in four games. For the postseason, James averaged 25.1 points, 8.0 assists, and 8.1 rebounds per game, although his Finals averages dropped to 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game.[28][8] Along the way, he set a franchise record for double-doubles in a playoff season with eight and became the first Cavalier and non-guard in NBA history to have at least seven assists in eight consecutive playoff games.[8]

James engages in his pre-game ritual of tossing crushed chalk into the air in March 2008.

2007–08 season

James continued his dominant play in the 2007–08 season, earning his fourth consecutive All-Star Game appearance and winning the All-Star Game MVP award for the second time behind a 27 point, 8 rebound, 9 assist, 2 block, and 2 steal performance.[52][53] Over the course of the year he set numerous individual, team, and league records. On February 19 in a game against the Houston Rockets, he recorded his fifth triple-double of the season, becoming the third youngest player in league history to post 15 triple-doubles behind Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson.[54] He registered another triple-double against the Indiana Pacers the very next game, signifying the second time that season he had a triple-double in back-to-back games. The last player to accomplish that feat before him was Johnson in 1988.[55] James finished the year with seven triple-doubles, breaking his personal and team records for triple-doubles in a season.[56] On February 27, he became the youngest player to score 10,000 points in his career at 23 years, 59 days in a game against the Boston Celtics.[57] Additionally, it only took him 368 games to reach that milestone, the ninth fastest in league history. On March 5, he scored 50 points with 8 rebounds and 10 assists versus the New York Knicks, becoming only the third player since the ABA-NBA merger to record a 50-point, 10-assist game.[58] On March 21, he moved past Brad Daugherty as the Cavaliers' all-time leading scorer in a game against the Toronto Raptors, doing so in over 100 less games than Daugherty.[59][60]

James drives to the basket in April 2008.

Despite James' individual accomplishments, Cleveland's record fell from the year before to 45–37. Seeded fourth in the Eastern Conference entering the playoffs, the Cavaliers were matched up with the Wizards in the first round for the third consecutive season. In a pre-series interview, Washington guard Deshawn Stevenson stirred up controversy when he called James "overrated". In response, James said that he would not return the insult because it would be like "Jay-Z [responding to a negative comment] made by Soulja Boy."[61] James later said that he meant no disrespect to Soulja Boy with his comment, and that his young son was a big fan of the rapper. In the series, Cleveland defeated the Wizards in six games before being eliminated in seven games by the eventual 2008 NBA Champion Celtics in the next round. During the decisive seventh game in Boston, James scored 45 points but the Cavaliers could not overcome Paul Pierce's 41-point explosion.

2008–09 season

In the 2008–09 season, James established himself as one of the NBA's top defensive players. Behind 23 chase-down blocks and a career-high 93 total blocks, he finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and made his first All-Defensive Team.[62][63] His all-around game was also as strong as ever as he improved his free throw shooting to a career-high 78 percent and made a league-leading 594 free throws.[64] He was named NBA Player of the Month four times, becoming the second player in league history after Kevin Garnett to do so.[65] He also became the fourth player in NBA history to lead his team in all five major statistical categories (total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks) in one season.[66] Behind his play and the acquisition of All-Star Mo Williams, the Cavaliers went a franchise record 66–16 and were in the running for the best home record in league history. Cleveland's stellar record and James' terrific averages of 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.7 steals, and a career-high 1.2 blocks per game resulted in him becoming the first Cavalier to win the MVP Award.[67][68][69]

James defends Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics in October 2008.

In the playoffs, Cleveland swept the Pistons in the first round. At the end of Game 4, Detroit's home crowd started an MVP chant for James, who registered 36 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists that night.[70] In total, he averaged 32.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 7.5 assists for the series and became the third player in NBA history to average at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists for a postseason series. In the next round, the Cavaliers swept the Atlanta Hawks. Cleveland entered the Conference Finals as the favorites against the Orlando Magic but lost Game 1 at home despite one of James' greatest games where he scored 49 points on 66 percent shooting.[49] In Game 2, he hit a memorable game-winner to tie the series at 1–1. The Cavaliers lost the next two games in Orlando before returning home. In Game 5, they won to force the series back to Orlando but lost in Game 6. Following the loss, James immediately left the floor without shaking hands with his opponents. This caused a storm of controversy as many media members viewed the act as unsportsmanlike.[71] James later told reporters: "It's hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them, I'm a winner. It's not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you're not going to congratulate them. ... I'm a competitor. That's what I do. It doesn't make sense for me to go over and shake somebody's hand."[72]

James attacks the basket in April 2009.

2009–10 season

To address their lack of an inside presence against Orlando, the Cavaliers traded for center Shaquille O'Neal before the 2009–10 season.[73] To give James more scoring help, Cleveland also added All-Star Antawn Jamison to their roster at the trading deadline.[74] The re-tooled Cavaliers lineup looked primed for a championship run, finishing the regular season with the league's best record for the second straight year.[75] Along the way, James became the first player to earn at least 2.5 million All-Star Game votes three times and was selected to his sixth consecutive All-Star Game.[76] In a mid-season loss to the Denver Nuggets, he tallied 43 points, 13 rebounds, 15 assists, two steals, and four blocks, becoming the first player to have at least 40 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds in a game since Robertson did so on February 13, 1962.[77][77] On March 13, he became the youngest player in league history to score 15,000 regular season points during a 92–85 win over the Chicago Bulls.[78] At the end of the season, he was named NBA MVP for the second consecutive year.[79]

James takes a free throw against the Atlanta Hawks in April 2010.

In the playoffs, the Cavaliers beat the Chicago Bulls in the first round but fell to the Celtics in the second round.[80] James was heavily criticized for not playing well, particularly in Game 5 of the series when he shot only 20 percent on 14 shots, scoring 15 points.[81] At the conclusion of the game he walked off the court to a smattering of boos from Cleveland's home crowd, the team having just suffered their worst home playoff loss ever.[82] The Cavaliers were officially eliminated in Game 6, with James recording 27 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists, but on just 38 percent shooting with 9 turnovers.[80] The game ended up being his last as a Cavalier.

2010 free agency

Main article: The Decision (TV special)
James surveys the floor in December 2010 as a member of the Miami Heat.

James became an unrestricted free agent at 12:01 am EST on July 1, 2010.[83] During his free agency he was courted by several teams including the Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Knicks, New Jersey Nets, and hometown Cavaliers.[84] On July 8, he announced on a live ESPN special titled The Decision that he would sign with the Heat. The telecast, broadcasted from the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, Connecticut, raised $2.5 million for the charity and an additional $3.5 million from advertisement revenue that was donated to other various charities.[85][86][87] Just days prior to the special, fellow free agents Bosh and Wade announced that they would also be joining Miami, forming a potent core to build the team's roster around. James decided to join with Bosh and Wade in part so that he could shoulder less load offensively, thinking that his improved teammates would give him a better chance of winning a championship than had he stayed in Cleveland.[88][89] Heat president Pat Riley played a major role in selling James on the idea of playing with Bosh and Wade.[90]

James drew immense criticism from sports analysts, executives, fans, and current and former players for leaving the Cavaliers. The Decision itself was also scrutinized and viewed as unnecessary. Many thought the prolonged wait for James' choice was unprofessional as not even the teams courting him were aware of his decision until moments before the show.[91] Upon learning that James would not be returning to Cleveland, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert published an open letter to fans in which he aggressively denounced James' actions.[92] Some fans of the team were so angry at James that they recorded videos of themselves burning his jersey.[93] Former NBA players including Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson were also critical of James', condemning him for joining with Bosh and Wade in Miami and not trying to win a championship as "the guy".[94][95][96] James drew further criticism in a September interview with CNN when he that claimed race might have been a factor in the fallout from The Decision.[97][98] As a result of his actions during the 2010 free agency period, James quickly gained a reputation as one of America's most disliked athletes, a radical change from years prior.[99][100] The phrase "taking my talents to South Beach" became a punch line for critics.[101][102]

Immediately following The Decision, James claimed that there was nothing he would change about the handling of his free agency despite all the criticism.[103] Since then, he has expressed remorse over his actions. During the 2010–11 season, he said he "probably would do it a little bit different ... But I’m happy with my decision." He declined to be more specific.[104] James relented about the special before the 2011–12 season: "... if the shoe was on the other foot and I was a fan, and I was very passionate about one player, and he decided to leave, I would be upset too about the way he handled it."[100]

Miami Heat (2010–present)

2010–11 season

James officially became a member of the Heat on July 9, completing a sign-and-trade six-year contract with the team.[105] With the move, he became only the third reigning MVP to change teams and the first since Moses Malone in 1982.[106] Although his contract would have allowed him to earn the maximum salary under the collective bargaining agreement, he took less money in order for Miami to be able to afford Bosh and Wade as well as further roster support.[107] That evening, the Heat threw a welcome party for their new "big three" at the American Airlines Arena, an event that took on a rock concert atmosphere.[108] During the gathering, James predicted a dynasty for the Heat and alluded to multiple championships.[109][110] Outside of Miami the spectacle was not well-received, furthering the negative public perception of James.[111][112]

James attempts a slam dunk in March 2011.

Throughout the 2010–11 season, James embraced the villain role bestowed upon him by the media. He later said that the negativity surrounding him as a result of his actions during the 2010 free agency period "basically turned me into somebody I wasn't ... You start to hear 'the villain,' now you have to be the villain, you know, and I started to buy into it. I started to play the game of basketball at a level, or at a mind state that I've never played at before ... meaning, angry. And that's mentally. That's not the way I play the game of basketball."[113] Despite the change, he continued to perform at his usual high standard. In an early season victory versus the Minnesota Timberwolves he registered a game-high 12 assists, the most ever by a Heat forward.[114] The primary ball handler for most of the game, his performance sparked media debate over whether he was taking over Miami's point guard position. One week later, he achieved a triple-double of 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 14 assists in a loss to the Utah Jazz, his first ever triple-double with the Heat.[115] On December 2, he returned to Cleveland for the first time since departing as a free agent, leading Miami to a win while being booed every time he touched the ball.[116][117] In the victory, he scored a season-high 38 points. In a well-publicized visit to New York after rejecting their summer free agency bids, he had his second triple-double of the year with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a blowout win for Miami over the Knicks.[118] In what was his finest performance of the season, he registered 51 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists versus Orlando on February 3, including 23 first quarter points.[119]

James finished the season ranked second in the league in scoring with 26.7 points per game. Wade also finished the year as one of the league's top scorers, and together they combined to score 4,052 points, the most ever by a Heat duo.[120] Entering the the playoffs as the Eastern Conference's second seed, Miami breezed past the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round to earn James another rematch with the Celtics in the second round. Behind stellar play from James and Wade, the Heat defeated Boston in five games. In the Conference Finals, Miami met the first-seeded Bulls and 2011 MVP Derrick Rose. The Heat again won in five games with James leading the way, providing strong defense on Rose and reliable clutch play throughout. In the 2011 NBA Finals, Miami stumbled against the Dallas Mavericks, losing in six games despite holding a 2–1 series lead going into Game 4. James received the brunt of the criticism for the loss, averaging only 3 points in fourth quarters in the series.[121] His low scoring average of 17.8 points per game signified an 8.9-point drop from the regular season, the lowest such drop-off in league history.[122] He also contributed 6.8 assists and 7.1 rebounds per game, and averaged 23.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game for the postseason as a whole.

2011–12 season

James entered the lockout-shortened 2011–12 season with a drastically changed demeanor. Admittedly humbled by Miami's loss to Dallas, he spent the offseason attempting to improve himself as a basketball player and a person, going so far as to work with Hakeem Olajuwon on his post game.[123][124] The Heat opened the year on a strong note, finishing January with a 16–5 record and matching their best start to a season in franchise history.[125] During that stretch, James averaged 29.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.8 steals, and 37.4 minutes while shooting 55.1 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from three-point range. In the 2012 All-Star Game, he tied Kevin Durant with a game-high 36 points and tied the All-Star Game record of six three-pointers made.[126] At the conclusion of the season, James was named league 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.[127]

Despite a lackluster second half to the season, the Heat entered the playoffs with the second seed in the Eastern Conference. They breezed past the Knicks in the first round before falling behind 2–1 to Indiana in the second round. In Game 4, James turned in one of the best all-around performances of his career, registering 40 points, 18 rebounds, and 9 assists in a winning effort on the road,[128] becoming only the second player to ever do so in NBA history (besides Elgin Baylor in 1961). Miami eventually won the series in six games. In the Conference Finals, the Heat again faced the Celtics, winning the first two games before dropping the next three. Facing elimination, James lead Miami to victory by scoring 45 points in Game 6, making 19 out of 26 shot attempts for a 73 percent completion rate. [129] He also contributed 15 rebounds and 5 assists, becoming the second player in league history to do so, besides Wilt Chamberlain against the St. Louis Hawks in 1964.[130] The Heat won Game 7 to advance to the 2012 NBA Finals.

In the Finals, the Heat were matched up with the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder, led by young stars Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. Despite holding a 13-point first half lead in Game 1, Miami lost the first game of the series. In Game 2, the Heat again built a double-digit lead, this time holding on and winning to tie the series at 1–1. Back in Miami, the Heat took Game 3 to go up 2–1. Game 4 proved to be a memorable one for James. With five minutes left in the game, he started experiencing leg cramps and was carried off the floor. He returned soon after and hit a three-pointer with 2:51 left to give Miami a three point lead they did not relinquish. In Game 5, James registered his only triple-double of the season with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists as Miami defeated Oklahoma City for their second ever championship and James' first championship. James was unanimously voted the NBA Finals MVP with averages of 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game.[131] His postseason totals were 30.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game.[132]

International career

James attempts a shot over China's Yao Ming at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

In 2004, James was selected to the United States national team for the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The team finished the competition with a bronze medal, becoming the first USA squad to return home without a gold medal since NBA professionals became eligible. Limited to 14.6 minutes per game, James averaged just 5.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.[133]

Next, James set his sights on the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. At the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, he took on a greater role for Team USA, averaging 13.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game as co-captain.[134][135] The squad finished the competition with an 8–1 record, again failing to win a gold medal and leaving with a bronze.[134] Having failed to win the World Championship, Team USA were forced to compete at Americas Championships 2007 to qualify for the Olympics. During the tournament's championship game against Argentina, James recorded 31 points, the most ever by an American in an Olympic qualifier, as Team USA finally captured gold medal honors, officially qualifying for the 2008 Olympics.[136] For the tournament, he averaged 18.1 points, 4.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals on a tournament-high 76 percent shooting and 62.2 percent three-point shooting percentage. At the Olympics, Team USA reclaimed the gold medal, defeating Spain 118–107 in the final game. James turned in 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists as the team went unbeaten, winning their first gold medal since 2000.[137] It was later reported that he was originally at risk for not being included on the national team's roster due to his immaturity and "downright disrespectfulness".[91]

James did not play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, citing his busy schedule during the summer.[138] He was selected for the 2012 United States Olympic team to compete in London,[139] where he recorded the first triple double (11 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists) [140] in Olympic basketball history against the Australia men's national basketball team.[141] He also helped the team to their second straight gold medal in a 107-100 victory against Spain, in which he had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. In the fourth quarter, LeBron made a dunk that tied him with David Robinson for the USA's all-time scoring lead, but a three with under two minutes left gave him the top spot with 273 points all-time. With the U.S. winning the gold medal, James joined Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen as the only players to have won NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal in the same year (a feat Pippen achieved twice). James also became the only player other than Jordan to have won an NBA championship and an NBA MVP award in the same year as winning an Olympic gold medal. [142]

Player profile

James has started at the small forward and power forward positions, but can also play and guard the other three positions.[132] With career averages of 27.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 7.2 rebounds per game, he is a versatile player who has been compared by some to Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan.[28][143] He has earned All-NBA honors every season since 2005–06 and All-Defensive honors every season since 2008–09. With three MVP trophies, he is part of a select group of players to have won the award three times, including Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain, and Bill Russell.[144]

Standing at six feet, eight inches tall and weighing in at 250 pounds, James has been called the best physical specimen in sports by some analysts.[145][146] Due to his athletic ability, he is one of the best slashers and finishers in basketball, having led the league in completed traditional three point plays during various points in his career.[8] His size also allows him to rebound the ball effectively, and he regularly ranks among the league leaders in rebounds for his position.[147][148] Furthermore, he is an unusually gifted passer for his position, averaging 8.6 assists per game during the 2009–10 campaign and finishing the year ranked sixth overall in that category.[149] Despite his talents, he has been criticized for not developing a reliable jump shot or post game.[150]

James' clutch play has been the subject of much scrutiny throughout his career. He has been repeatedly criticized by the media for his play in pressure situations; specifically, for passing instead of shooting in the waning seconds of close games.[151][152] Even teammate Chris Bosh has gone on record as stating that he would rather have Dwyane Wade take a last-second shot.[153] On the other hand, a 2011 article by Henry Abbott revealed that James had a better shooting percentage with the game on the line than such notables as Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant.[154] Additionally, a 2012 feature by ESPN ranked three of James' playoff performances as some of the greatest in NBA history.[49]

Off the court

Personal life

James has two children with his high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson. The first, LeBron James Jr., was born on October 6, 2004,[155] and the second, Bryce Maximus James, on June 14, 2007.[155][49] They currently reside in Coconut Grove, a Miami suburb, where James bought a three-story mansion overlooking Biscayne Bay for $9 million.[156] James became engaged to Brinson on December 31, 2011. He proposed to her at a party to celebrate New Year’s Eve and his 27th birthday.[157]

Endorsements

James is a minority stakeholder of Liverpool F.C.

James has endorsement contracts with Nike, Sprite, Glacéau, Bubblicious, Upper Deck, McDonald's, State Farm, Dunkin' Brands, and Audemars Piguet.[158][159][160][161] His initial contract with Nike was worth almost $90 million.[162] In 2007, he acted in a series of Nike commercials called "The LeBrons". Two years later, he had his likeness voiced by Kenan Thompson in another series of Nike commercials titled "MVPuppets". In 2011, Fenway Sports Group became the sole global marketer of James' rights. As part of the deal, he and his manager Maverick Carter were granted minority stakes in the English Premier League football club Liverpool F.C.[163] As a result of his endorsement money and NBA salary, James is routinely listed as one of the world's highest-paid athletes.[164][165]

James has shown a passion for the entertainment industry. In 2009, he was featured in the Lions Gate documentary More Than a Game. He has also tried his hand at acting, appearing in a cameo role on the HBO series Entourage.[166] Recently, he and rapper Ice Cube pitched a one-hour special to ABC based on James' life. James will act as executive producer if the show is greenlighted.[167]

Public image

James' public life has been eagerly followed since high school, and in 2010 he was ranked by Forbes as the second most influential athlete behind Lance Armstrong.[168] As a member of the Cavaliers, he was adored by local fans, with Sherwin-Williams displaying a giant Nike-produced banner of James on their world headquarters throughout his tenure with the team.[169] Despite their affection for James, Cleveland fans and critics were frequently annoyed when he attended Cleveland Indians games against the New York Yankees dressed in a Yankees hat.[170] Following his actions during the 2010 free agency period and, more specifically, The Decision, he has been routinely listed as one of the most disliked athletes.[171][172] A philanthropist, he is an active supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of America, Children's Defense Fund, and ONEXONE.[173] He has also established his own charity foundation called the LeBron James Family Foundation, based out of Akron.[174] Since 2005, the foundation has held an annual bike-a-thon in Akron to raise money for various causes.[175]

In March 2008, James became the first black man to appear on the cover of Vogue, posing with Gisele Bündchen.[176] He was the third man to appear on the cover of Vogue, after Richard Gere and George Clooney. Some sports bloggers and columnists considered the cover offensive, describing the demeanor of James and his holding Bündchen as a reference to classic imagery of the movie monster King Kong, a dark savage capturing his light-skinned love interest.[176][177]

While James has largely avoided political issues, he drew criticism in 2007 when he declined to sign a petition started by his Cavaliers teammate Ira Newble regarding the Chinese government's alleged involvement in the ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan, stating that he did not know enough about the issue.[178][179] A year later, James did talk publicly about the issue, saying, "At the end of the day we're talking about human rights. And people should understand that human rights and people's lives are in jeopardy. We're not talking about contracts here. We're not talking about money. We're talking about people's lives being lost and that means a lot more to me than some money or a contract."[180][181] In June 2008, James donated $20,000 to a committee to elect Barack Obama.[182] On October 29, 2008, James gathered almost 20,000 people at the Quicken Loans Arena for a viewing of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's 30-minute American Stories, American Solutions television advertisement. It was shown on a large screen above the stage, where Jay-Z later held a free concert.[183]

James, with comedian Jimmy Kimmel, co-hosted the 2007 ESPY Awards. James himself was nominated for three ESPYs: Best Male Athlete, Best NBA Player, and Best Record Breaking Performance, winning for Best NBA Player, which he would win again at the 2009 ESPY Awards. At the 2012 ESPY Awards, James won the Best Male Athlete ESPY Award, in addition to winning the Best Championship Performance ESPY Award and his third Best NBA Player Award. In other comedic pursuits, he hosted the 33rd season premiere of Saturday Night Live. The show's creator Lorne Michaels praised him for his versatility.

Salaries

Season Team Salary
2003–04 Cleveland $4,018,920
2004–05 Cleveland $4,320,360
2005–06 Cleveland $4,621,800
2006–07 Cleveland $5,828,090
2007–08 Cleveland $13,041,250
2008–09 Cleveland $14,410,581
2009–10 Cleveland $15,779,912
2010–11 Miami $14,500,000
2011–12 Miami $16,022,500

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
† Denotes seasons in which James won an NBA Championship

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2003–04 Cleveland 79 79 39.5 .417 .290 .754 5.5 5.9 1.6 .7 20.9
2004–05 Cleveland 80 80 42.4 .472 .351 .750 7.4 7.2 2.2 .6 27.2
2005–06 Cleveland 79 79 42.5 .480 .335 .738 7.0 6.6 1.6 .8 31.4
2006–07 Cleveland 78 78 40.9 .476 .319 .698 6.7 6.0 1.6 .7 27.3
2007–08 Cleveland 75 74 40.4 .484 .315 .712 7.9 7.2 1.8 1.1 30.0
2008–09 Cleveland 81 81 37.7 .489 .344 .780 7.6 7.2 1.7 1.1 28.4
2009–10 Cleveland 76 76 39.0 .503 .333 .767 7.3 8.6 1.6 1.0 29.7
2010–11 Miami 79 79 38.8 .510 .330 .759 7.5 7.0 1.6 .6 26.7
2011–12† Miami 62 62 37.5 .531 .362 .771 7.9 6.2 1.9 .8 27.1
Career 689 688 39.8 .484 .331 .747 7.2 6.8 1.7 .8 27.6
All-Star 8 8 27.0 .532 .392 .760 7.0 6.1 1.4 .2 25.9

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2006 Cleveland 13 13 46.5 .476 .333 .737 8.1 5.8 1.4 .7 30.8
2007 Cleveland 20 20 44.7 .416 .280 .755 8.1 8.0 1.7 .5 25.1
2008 Cleveland 13 13 42.5 .411 .257 .731 7.8 7.6 1.8 1.3 28.2
2009 Cleveland 14 14 41.4 .510 .333 .749 9.1 7.3 1.6 .9 35.3
2010 Cleveland 11 11 41.8 .502 .400 .733 9.3 7.6 1.7 1.8 29.1
2011 Miami 21 21 43.9 .466 .353 .763 8.4 5.9 1.7 1.2 23.7
2012† Miami 23 23 42.7 .500 .259 .739 9.7 5.6 1.9 .7 30.3
Career 115 115 43.4 .469 .312 .745 8.7 6.7 1.7 1.0 28.5

Awards and honors

Main article: List of career achievements by LeBron James

See also

References

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Further reading

  • Freedman, Lew (2008). LeBron James : A Biography. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-34361-2.
  • Jones, Ryan (2005). King James : Believe The Hype : The LeBron James Story. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-34992-0.
  • Morgan, David Lee (2003). LeBron James : The Rise of a Star. Cleveland: Gray & Co. ISBN 1-886228-74-4.
  • Pluto, Terry; Windhorst, Brian (2007). The Franchise : Lebron James and the Remaking of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland: Gray & Co. ISBN 1-59851-028-2.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Best NBA Player ESPY Award
2012 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Germany Dirk Nowitzki
 Best Male Athlete ESPY Award
2012 		Succeeded by
Incumbent

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