Lebron James
LeBron Raymone , James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . Standing at 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m ) and weighing 250 pounds ( 113 kg ) , he could play the small forward and power forward positions . James has been called the best physical specimen in sports by some sports analyst . born December 30, 1984 , in Akron , Ohio with a 16 - year -old single mother , Gloria Marie James , who raised LeBron on her own . Growing up , life is often a struggle for LeBron and Gloria , who moved from apartment to apartment in the seedier neighborhoods of Akron while Gloria struggled to find solid work . Realize he will be better off in a more stable family environment , Gloria allowed LeBron to move in with the family of Frank Walker , a local youth football coach , who introduced basketball LeBron when LeBron was nine years old . In his 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 her friend Sian Cotton , Dru Joyce III , Willie McGee and . Inseparable, they dubbed themselves the " Fab Four " and promised each of them attended high school together . In a move that stirred controversy locally , they chose to attend St. Vincent - St . Mary High School , a largely white private school , rather than their local public school . In his freshman year , James averaged 21 points and 6 rebounds per game for St. Vincent - St . Varsity Team of Mary . 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 per game and 3.8 steals . The Fighting Irish finished the season 26-1 and repeated as State Champions . For his outstanding play, James was named Mr. Basketball Ohio and was selected to the USA Today All - USA First Team , becoming the first sophomore ever to do either . In his senior year , James and the Fighting Irish traveled across the country to play a number of nationally - ranked teams , including a game against Oak Hill Academy nationally televised on ESPN2 . In his senior year , James was the centerpiece of several controversies . For his 18th birthday , he received a Hummer H2 from his mother , who secured a loan for the car using LeBron future earning power as a professional athlete . This prompted an investigation by the Ohio High School Athletic Association ( OHSAA ) as their rules say that no amateur may accept any gift valued over $ 100 as a reward for athletic performance .
James was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick in 2003 NBA Draft . In his first professional game , he recorded 25 points against the Sacramento Kings , setting an NBA record for most points scored by a prep -to - pro player in his debut outing. 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 year . James recorded his first career triple - double on Jan. 19 for the 2004-05 season , and became the youngest player in league history to record a triple - double in 20 years . He earned his playing his first All - Star selection Games , where he added 13 points , 8 rebounds , and 6 Assists in a winning effort for the Eastern Conference.At the All - Star Game 2006, James led the East to victory with 29 points and 6 rebound performance , and became the youngest ever winner of the All - Star Game MVP award in 21 years , 51 days . Under James ' leadership , the Cavaliers qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1998. After the 2006 Playoffs , James and the Cavaliers negotiated a three - year , $ 60 million contract extension with a player option for 1/4 years . Although it was for fewer years and less money than the maximum he could sign , it provided him the option of seeking a new contract worth more money as an unrestricted free agent following the 2009-10 season . Early in the 2006-07 season , James was criticized for a return to his passing skills and shot selection , stemming from a lack of effort and focus . Called Play -by - play announcer Marv Albert 's performance " one of the greatest moments in postseason history " and called it a color commentator Steve Kerr " Jordan - esque . " In 2012 , ESPN ranked the performance fourth largest modern NBA playoff history . During the 2007-08 season , James was named All - Star Game MVP for the second time behind a 27 point , 8 rebound , and 9 assist performance . On March 21, he moved past Brad Daugherty as the Cavaliers ' all- time leading scorer in a game against the Raptors , making it more than 100 less than the game Daugherty . The conclusion of the 2008-09 season , James finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and made his first All - Defensive Team with 23 chase - down blocks and a career - high 93 total blocks . He also became only the fourth player to postmerger led his team in points , rebounds , assists, steals , and blocks in a single season . James officially became a member of the Heat on July 10, completing a sign- and - trade six- year contract with the team . In transition , he became only the third reigning MVP to change teams and the first since Moses Malone in 1982 . Even that would have allowed its contract with 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 additional support to roster .
James proposed to Savannah Brinson, his high school sweetheart, on December 31, 2011 at a party to celebrate New Year's Eve and his 27th birthday. The two married on 14th of September 2013 at San Diego. Together they have two sons, LeBron James Jr. and Bryce Maximus James. They currently reside in Coconut Grove, an affluent neighborhood Miami, where James bought a three-story mansion overlooking Biscayne Bay for $ 9,000,000. James drew immense criticism from sports analysts, executives, fans, and present and former players for leaving the Cavaliers. The decision itself was also scrutinized and viewed as unnecessary. At the beginning of James' career, he was considered a poor defensive player, but improved continuously through the years. In Miami, he developed a more versatile defender, and the Heat rely on him to guard all five positions. At the beginning of James' career, he was considered a poor defensive player, but improved continuously through the years. Paired with teammates Shane Battier and Dwyane Wade, Miami James used an ultra-aggressive defensive scheme, with James fraud off the ball to help out in or get into rebounding position.
James made his debut for the national team of the United States in the 2004 Olympics in Athens , Greece . U.S. Olympic coach Larry Brown said James , accustomed to being a star , is not 100 % receptive to a reduced role . In 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan , James took on a wider role for Team USA , averaging 13.9 points , 4.8 rebounds , and 4.1 Assists per game as a co - captain . Team finished the tournament with a 8-1 record , winning another bronze medal . 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 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 will be 34 soon , stepping back . During the Games , he recorded the first triple - double in the history of the U.S. Olympic basketball . Team USA went on to win their second straight gold medal , again defeating Spain in the final game . James contributed 19 points in the victory , and became the all - time leading scorer in the history of the U.S. men's basketball . He also joined Michael Jordan as the only players to win an NBA MVP , NBA championship and Olympic gold medal in the same year . Career average of 27.6 points , 7.3 rebounds , 6.9 assists, and 1.7 steals per game , he is considered one of the most versatile players in the NBA , and it is compared to Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson , Magic Johnson , and Michael Jordan . James earned All - NBA honors every season since his sophomore year , All - Defensive honors every season since 2009 , and was named Rookie of the Year in his debut season . With four MVP awards , he is part of a select group of players who won the award four times , including Kareem Abdul - Jabbar , Jordan , Wilt Chamberlain , and Bill Russell . While James has never won the Defensive Player of the Year Award , he finished second in voting twice and it lists as one of its main objectives . Since 2011 , he was ranked the best player in the NBA for ESPN .
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