LeBron James

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

LeBron James

LeBron James during his tenure with the Miami Heat in November 2010
No. 6 – Miami Heat
Position	Small forward / Power forward
Personal information
Born	(1984-12-30) December 30, 1984 Akron, Ohio
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school	St. Vincent – St. Mary (Akron, Ohio)
NBA draft	2003: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Playing career	2003–present
Career history
2003–2010	Cleveland Cavaliers
2010–present	Miami Heat
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (2012) NBA Finals MVP (2012) 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (2009–2010, 2012) 9× NBA All-Star (2005–2013) 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2006, 2008) NBA Rookie of the Year (2004) NBA scoring champion (2008) 6× All-NBA First Team (2006, 2008–2012) 2× All-NBA Second Team (2005, 2007) 4× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2009–2012) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2004) USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2012) Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (2012) Cleveland Cavaliers all-time leading scorer Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2003) 2× USA Mr. Basketball (2002–2003) 3× Ohio Mr. Basketball (2001–2003) 2× Consensus National H.S. Player of the Year (2002–2003)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals Men's Basketball Representing the United States Olympic Games 2012 London Men's basketball 2008 Beijing Men's basketball 2004 Athens Men's basketball FIBA World Championship 2006 Japan Men's basketball FIBA Americas Championship 2007 Las Vegas Men's basketball

LeBron Raymone James (Pronounced -- Douche) (/ləˈbrɒn/; born December 30, 1984), nicknamed "King James", 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 who has also played as a power forward, he has been an NBA champion, the NBA Finals MVP, a three-time NBA MVP, and the NBA Rookie of the Year. James is a nine-time NBA All-Star, and has been named to eight All-NBA teams and four All-Defensive teams. He is also the Cleveland Cavaliers' all-time leading scorer, and holds other franchise records for both the Cavaliers and the Heat. On January 16, 2013, he became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points, at 28 years and 17 days of age.

James played high school basketball 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 the Cleveland Cavaliers. James led the Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA Finals, their first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history, but the team was swept by the San Antonio Spurs. In 2010, he left the Cavaliers for the Heat in a highly publicized free agency period. In his first year in Miami, the Heat reached the 2011 NBA Finals, but lost to the Dallas Mavericks. James won his first championship in 2012 when the Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was awarded the NBA Finals MVP Award. His career achievements and leadership role during the Heat's 2012 championship run have led a majority of basketball analysts, experts, and writers to consider him the best player in the NBA today.

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. He has also 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, who raised LeBron on her own. Growing up, life was often a struggle for LeBron and Gloria, who moved from apartment to apartment in the seedier neighborhoods of Akron while Gloria struggled to find steady work. Realizing he would be better off with a more stable family environment, Gloria allowed LeBron to move in with the family of Frank Walker, a local youth football coach. Walker became the father figure LeBron never had, and introduced LeBron to basketball when LeBron was nine-years-old.

As a youth, James played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars. The team enjoyed success on a local and national level, led by James and his friends Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, and Willie McGee. Inseparable, they dubbed themselves the "Fab Four" and promised each other they would attend high school together. In a move that stirred local controversy, they chose to attend St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, a largely white school, instead of their local public school.

High school career

Basketball

In his freshman year, James averaged 21 points and 6 rebounds per game for St. VIncent-St. Mary's varsity team. The Fighting Irish finished the year 27-0, winning the Division III state title. In his sophomore year, James averaged 25.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, while also contributing 5.8 assists and 3.8 steals per game. For some home games during the season, St. Vincent-St. Mary played at the University of Akron's 5,492-seat capacity Rhodes Arena to satisfy ticket demand from alumni, local fans, and college and NBA scouts who wanted to see James play. The Fighting 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.

James gained national attention during his junior year. 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. 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. Although the petition was unsuccessful, it only further raised his exposure. During this time, James used marijuana to help cope with stress resulting from the constant media attention he was receiving.

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. 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. For the season, James averaged 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.4 steals per game. 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. James finished his high school basketball career with 2,657 points, 892 rebounds, and 523 assists. On January 31, 2012, he was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans.

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. 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. 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. 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.

Football

James played wide receiver for St. Vincent-St. Mary's football team in high school. As a sophomore, he was named first-team all-state, and as a junior, he led the Fighting Irish to the state semifinals. His football career came to an end before his senior year when he broke his wrist during an AAU basketball game. Many sports analysts, football critics, and former and current players have speculated on whether he could have played in the National Football League.

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. 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 to score at least 40 points in a game at 19 years. 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. He 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). The Cavaliers finished the season 35-47, failing to make the playoffs despite an 18-game improvement over the previous season.

2004–05 season

James recorded his first ever triple-double on January 19 of the 2004–05 season, becoming the youngest player in league history to record a triple-double at 20 years. 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. On March 20, James scored a career-high 56 points against the Toronto Raptors, setting Cleveland's new single game points record. With averages of 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 2.2 steals per game to finish the season, he became the youngest player in league history to be named to an All-NBA Team, being selected to the All-NBA Second Team. Despite a 30-20 record to start the year, Cleveland again failed to make the playoffs, finishing the year with a 42–40 record.

2005–06 season

James averaged 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game during the 2005–06 season, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to average at least 30 points per game. At the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, he led the East to victory with a 29 point, 6 rebound, 2 assist performance, and became the youngest ever winner of the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award at 21 years, 51 days. 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.

Under James' leadership, the Cavaliers qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1998, improving their record by 33 wins from three years prior. 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. He joined Johnny McCarthy and Magic Johnson as the only players in NBA history to register a triple-double in their playoff debut. For the series, James averaged 35.7 points per game and Cleveland defeated the Wizards in six games. 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.

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. 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. 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.

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. The Cavaliers again finished the year with 50 wins and entered the playoffs as the Eastern Conference's second seed. In the first round, Cleveland defeated the Wizards for the second straight season, sweeping them in four games. For the series, James averaged 27.8 points, 7.5 assists, and 8.5 rebounds per game. 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. In the Eastern Conference Finals, Cleveland faced the Pistons in a rematch from the year before. In Game 5, James had one of the greatest playoff performances in league history. 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. 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." Cleveland won the series to advance to 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.

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

2007–08 season

During the 2007–08 season, James was selected to his fourth consecutive All-Star Game and won the All-Star Game MVP award for the second time behind a 27 point, 8 rebound, 9 assist, 2 block, and 2 steal performance. On February 27, he became the youngest player in NBA history to score 10,000 career points at 23 years, 59 days in a game against the Boston Celtics. On March 21, he moved past Brad Daugherty as the Cavaliers' all-time leading scorer in a game against the Raptors, doing so in over 100 less games than Daugherty. With seven triple-doubles to finish the year, James set a new personal and team record for triple-doubles in a season.

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." 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 Celtics in the next round. During the decisive seventh game in Boston, James scored 45 points and Paul Pierce scored 41 in a game the Associated Press described as a "shootout".

2008–09 season

In the 2008–09 season, James finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and made his first All-Defensive Team behind 23 chase-down blocks and a career-high 93 total blocks. 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. Behind his play and the acquisition of All-Star Mo Williams, the Cavaliers went a franchise record 66–16 and fell one game short of matching the best home record in league history. With averages of 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.7 steals, and a career-high 1.2 blocks per game, James became the first Cavalier to win the NBA MVP Award.

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. 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. In Game 2, he hit a game-winner to tie the series at 1–1. The Cavaliers would lose the series in six games, and following the loss in Game 6, 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. 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."

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. To give James more scoring help, Cleveland also added All-Star Antawn Jamison to their roster at the trading deadline. During the season, James was selected to his sixth consecutive All-Star Game. On March 13, he became the youngest player in NBA history to score 15,000 career points at 25 years, 79 days during a game against the Chicago Bulls. At the end of the season, he was named NBA MVP for the second consecutive year with averages of 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, a career-high 8.6 assists, 1 block, and 1.6 steals per game on 50 percent shooting. The Cavaliers also finished the regular season with the league's best record for the second straight year.

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. 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. 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. 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.

2010 free agency

Main article: The Decision (TV special)

James became an unrestricted free agent at 12:01 am EST on July 1, 2010. During his free agency he was courted by several teams including the Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Knicks, New Jersey Nets, and Cavaliers. On July 8, he announced on a live ESPN special titled The Decision that he would sign with the Heat. The telecast, broadcast 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. The day before the special, fellow free agents Bosh and Wade had also announced they would sign with Miami. 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. Heat president Pat Riley played a major role in selling James on the idea of playing with Bosh and Wade. Relieved of the burden of scoring, James thought he could be the first player to average a triple-double in a season since Oscar Robertson.

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. 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. Some fans of the team were so angry at James that they recorded videos of themselves burning his jersey. 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". James drew further criticism in a September interview with CNN when he claimed that race might have been a factor in the fallout from The Decision. 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. The phrase "taking my talents to South Beach" became a punch line for critics.

Immediately following The Decision, James claimed that there was nothing he would change about the handling of his free agency despite all the criticism. 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. 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."

Miami Heat (2010–present)

2010–11 season

James officially became a member of the Heat on July 10, completing a sign-and-trade six-year contract with the team. With the move, he became only the third reigning MVP to change teams and the first since Moses Malone in 1982. 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. 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. During the gathering, James predicted a dynasty for the Heat and alluded to multiple championships. Outside of Miami the spectacle was not well-received, furthering the negative public perception of James.

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." In an early season victory versus the Minnesota Timberwolves, he was Miami's primary ball handler and registered a game-high 12 assists, the most ever by a Heat forward. Throughout the season, he played the point guard role that Riley sold to him during free agency. "I don't want to be called a point guard, but I can't stop it," said James. One week later, he recorded a triple-double in a loss to the Utah Jazz, his first ever triple-double with the Heat. On December 2, he returned to Cleveland for the first time since departing as a free agent, scoring 38 points and leading Miami to a win while being booed every time he touched the ball. 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 win for Miami over the Knicks. On February 3, he registered a season-high 51 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 8 assists versus Orlando.

Entering the playoffs as the Eastern Conference's second seed, Miami defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round and the Celtics in the second round. In the Conference Finals, Miami met the first-seeded Bulls, winning in five games. 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. His 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.

2011–12 season

Humbled by Miami's loss to Dallas, James spent the offseason attempting to improve himself as a basketball player and a person, and worked with Hakeem Olajuwon on his post game. The Heat opened the lockout-shortened 2011–12 season on a strong note, finishing January with a 16–5 record and matching their best start to a season in franchise history. In the 2012 All-Star Game, James tied Kevin Durant with a game-high 36 points and tied the All-Star Game record of six three-pointers made. 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.

The Heat entered the playoffs with the second seed in the Eastern Conference. They defeated the Knicks in five games 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. 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 of 26 shot attempts for a 73 percent shooting rate. He also contributed 15 rebounds and 5 assists, becoming the second player in league history to do so besides Wilt Chamberlain. The Heat won Game 7 to advance to the 2012 NBA Finals.

In the Finals, the Heat were matched up with the Oklahoma City Thunder. 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. His final playoff averages were 30.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game.

2012–13 season

On January 16 of the 2012-13 season, James became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points at 28 years, 17 days during a game against the Golden State Warriors. In early February, he became the first player in league history to score at least 30 points and shoot at least 60 percent in six straight games. Over the entire month of February, James made 139 of 217 field goals (64.1%), becoming the first player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in March 1983, to take more than 200 shots in a calendar month and make at least 64 percent of them. Also in February, the Miami Heat started what would become the NBA's second-longest winning streak with 27 victories in a row. The streak ended with a 101-97 loss against the Chicago Bulls.

International career

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

James made his debut for the United States national team at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. U.S. Olympic coach Larry Brown said that James, accustomed to being a star, was not 100% receptive to a reduced role. James spent the Olympics mostly on the bench without quality playing time, averaging 14.6 minutes per game with 5.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in eight games. Team USA finished the competition with a bronze medal, becoming the first U.S. basketball team to return home without a gold medal since adding professionals to their line-up. James felt his limited playing time was a "lowlight" and believed he was not given "a fair opportunity to play". His attitude during the Olympics was described as "disrespectful" and "distasteful" by columnists Adrian Wojnarowski and Peter Vecsey, respectively.

At the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, James took on a greater role for Team USA, averaging 13.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game as co-captain. The team finished the tournament with an 8–1 record, winning another bronze medal. James' behavior was again questioned, this time by teammate Bruce Bowen, who confronted James during tryouts regarding his treatment of staff members.

Before naming James to the 2008 Olympic team, Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski gave James an ultimatum to improve his attitude, and he heeded their advice. At the FIBA Americas Championship 2007, he averaged 18.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, including a 31-point performance against Argentina in the championship game, the most ever by an American in an Olympic qualifier. Team USA went 10-0, winning the gold medal and qualifying for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. James credited the team's attitude and experience for their improvement, saying: "I don't think we understood what it meant to put on a USA uniform and all the people that we were representing in 2004. We definitely know that now." At the Olympics, Team USA went unbeaten, winning their first gold medal since 2000. In the final game, James turned in 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists against Spain.

James did not play at the 2010 FIBA World Championship but rejoined Team USA for the 2012 Olympics in London, England. He became the leader of the team with Kobe Bryant, who would soon be 34, stepping back. James facilitated the offense from the post and perimeter, called the defensive sets, and provided scoring when needed. During the Games, he recorded the first triple-double in U.S. Olympic basketball history. Team USA went on to win their second straight gold medal, again defeating Spain in the final game. James contributed 19 points in the win, becoming the all-time leading scorer in U.S. men's basketball history. He also joined Michael Jordan as the only players to win an NBA MVP award, NBA championship, and Olympic gold medal in the same year. Afterwards, Krzyzewski said James "is the best player, he is the best leader and he is as smart as anybody playing the game right now."

Player profile

James has started at the small forward and power forward positions, but can also play and guard the other three positions. 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. He has earned All-NBA honors every season since his 2004–05 sophomore season 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.

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. 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. His size also allows him to rebound the ball effectively, and he regularly ranks among the league leaders in rebounds for his position. 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. Despite his talents, he has been criticized for not developing a reliable jump shot or post game.

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. Even teammate Chris Bosh has gone on record as stating that he would rather have Dwyane Wade take a last-second shot. 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. Additionally, a 2012 feature by ESPN ranked three of James' playoff performances as some of the greatest in NBA history.

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, and the second, Bryce Maximus James, on June 14, 2007. They currently reside in Coconut Grove, a Miami suburb, where James bought a three-story mansion overlooking Biscayne Bay for $9 million. James became engaged to Brinson on December 31, 2011, proposing to her at a party to celebrate New Year’s Eve and his 27th birthday.

Endorsements

James has endorsement contracts with Nike, Sprite, Glacéau, Bubblicious, Upper Deck, McDonald's, State Farm, Dunkin' Brands, and Audemars Piguet. His initial contract with Nike was worth almost $90 million. In 2011, Fenway Sports Group became the sole global marketer of James' rights, and 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. As a result of his endorsement money and NBA salary, James has been listed as one of the world's highest-paid athletes.

James is a minority stakeholder of Liverpool F.C.

Entertainment

James, with comedian Jimmy Kimmel, co-hosted the 2007 ESPY Awards. In other comedic pursuits, he hosted the 33rd season premiere of Saturday Night Live. In 2009, he was featured in the Lions Gate documentary More Than a Game, which chronicled his high school years. He has also tried his hand at acting, appearing in a cameo role on the HBO series Entourage.

Public image

In 2010, James was ranked by Forbes as the second most influential athlete behind Lance Armstrong. 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. 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. Following his actions during the 2010 free agency period and, more specifically, The Decision, he has been listed as one of the most disliked athletes.

A philanthropist, James is an active supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of America, Children's Defense Fund, and ONEXONE. He has also established his own charity foundation called the LeBron James Family Foundation, based out of Akron. Since 2005, the foundation has held an annual bike-a-thon in Akron to raise money for various causes.

In March 2008, James became the first black man—and third man overall after Richard Gere and George Clooney—to appear on the cover of Vogue, posing with Gisele Bündchen. 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.

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. 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." In June 2008, James donated $20,000 to a committee to elect Barack Obama. 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.

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
2012–13	Miami	$17,545,000

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

Correct as of March 28, 2013

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
2012–13	Miami	71	71	38.3	.558	.392	.749	8.2	7.3	1.7	.9	26.8
Career		760	759	39.8	.490	.336	.747	7.3	6.9	1.7	.9	27.6
All-Star		9	9	30.9	.517	.397	.724	6.6	6.0	1.3	.2	25.1

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

• NBA Champion: 2012
• NBA Finals MVP: 2012
• 3× NBA Most Valuable Player: 2009, 2010, 2012
• Sporting News NBA MVP: 2006
• NBA Rookie of the Year: 2004
• NBA Scoring Champion: 2008
• 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2006, 2008
• 9× NBA All-Star: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
• 8× All-NBA:
  • First Team: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
  • Second Team: 2005, 2007
• 4× NBA All-Defensive:
  • First Team: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
• NBA All-Rookie First Team: 2004
• Slam Magazine Top 50 NBA Players of All-Time
• Sports Illustrated NBA All-Decade First Team: 2000–2009 decade
• Bronze medal with Team USA, 2004 Summer Olympic Games
• Bronze medal with Team USA, 2006 FIBA World Championship
• Gold medal with Team USA, 2007 FIBA Americas Championship
• Gold medal with Team USA, 2008 Summer Olympic Games
• Gold medal with Team USA, 2012 Summer Olympic Games

See also

• List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career turnovers leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career free throw scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career playoff scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career playoff steals leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career playoff turnovers leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career playoff 3-point scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career playoff free throw scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association season minutes leaders

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

• Official website

• Career statistics and player information from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com
• U.S. National Team Bio
• LeBron James: NBA.com Draft Profile
• LeBron James at IMDb
• Template:Worldcat id
• LeBron James collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• "LeBron James", on TIME's list of "100 Olympic Athletes To Watch"
• LeBron James on ESPN Video Archive
• LeBron James on FoxSports Video Archive