It’s pretty safe to say that if you’re a fan of basketball or the NBA, you’ve heard of “King” James! LeBron James has fast become one of the most influential and successful basketball players of his generation – and, like most of the NBA’s brightest and best, it’s taken him incredible effort to reach the top of the ladder.
But, how much do you actually know about LeBron? Let’s run through some interesting facts about the star and clue you up on how he got to where he is today.
1. LeBron James was born in Ohio and raised by his mother.
James was born on December 30th, 1984, in the town of Akron, in the state of Ohio, his full name being LeBron Raymone James Sr.
He was raised by his mother Gloria in a one-parent family, born when his mother was just 16.
When her son was nine years old, Gloria decided that allowing him to move in with a local youth football coach, Frank Walker, and his family would give him a fantastic opportunity to grow.
Walker would eventually introduce James to basketball – and the rest, of course, is history. Or is it?
2. He began playing basketball in the fifth grade.
James started playing basketball from a very young age, quickly moving on to playing Amateur Athletic Union basketball in the Northeast Ohio’s Shooting Stars.
However, it was when he attended St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron that he quickly gained national attention for his basketball talents.
3. He was a high school legend.
It didn’t take long for the public to start following LeBron James’ high school basketball career. In fact, he was named Ohio’s “Mr. Basketball” three times during high school! He was also the first sophomore ever to be chosen for the USA Today All-USA First Team.
When he was 16 years old, he was featured in an article in Slam magazine where the author dubbed him as the best high school player “in America right now.” How right that author was, all these years later!
4. He also faced some controversy in high school.
When he turned 18, James’s mother bought him a Hummer H2 using a loan she obtained by using her son’s future earning potential in the NBA. However, this triggered an investigation by the OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association).
Thankfully, both James and his mother were cleared of any wrongdoing, but he was penalized for accepting two jerseys from an urban clothing store in exchange for pictures, as the jerseys came to a total of $845.
What’s so bad about this, you might ask? Under OHSAA, no amateur is allowed to accept a gift that has a value over $100 as a reward for athletic performance. Whoops!
5. He was chosen by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Leaving the high school controversies behind, LeBron James was selected as the first pick in what was the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, his hometown team.
In his first-ever season game, LeBron set an impressive NBA record! He scored 25 points, the most that any prep-to-pro player has ever scored in their first outing.
6. He has won four NBA championships
There’s a reason LeBron is considered to be one of the best NBA players of all time, and that is partly because he has already won four NBA championships!
He won his first NBA championship in 2012, then again in 2013, 2016, and most recently, in 2020.
Interestingly, he won the championships with three different teams: Miami Heat (2012, 2013), Cleveland Cavaliers (2016), and Los Angeles Lakers (2020).
7. He has been named MVP four times, too.
James has also been credited as the NBA MVP (Most Valuable Player), four times.
However, he still has a way to go before beating the record for the player with the most MVP awards, which is currently held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who won the award six times throughout his career.
8. He is an Olympic gold medalist.
Given his other credits, it may come as no surprise to you that LeBron James is indeed an Olympic Gold Medalist!
He won gold medals at the Olympics both in 2008 and 2012. He also has gold medals from the 2007 FIBA (the International Basketball Federation) Americas Championship and the 2001 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival.
On top of his gold medals, James also has two bronze medals, one from the 2004 Summer Games, and the other from the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
9. He holds an All-Star record – unsurprisingly!
LeBron James has so far been selected to the NBA All-Star team 20 times. That makes him the NBA player with the most All-Star Game selections, and the most consecutive selections, which is also 20!
Along with those, he also holds the records for most All-Star games played (the number being 20, of course) and the most consecutive games played (with 20 again.)
The only person close to his record was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with 19. Third in line was the late Kobe Bryant with 17.
10. He is a very versatile player.
Another reason why LeBron James is considered easily one of the greatest basketball players of all time is due to the fact that he appears to be able to play any position!
Throughout his career, he has played point guard, small forward, shooting guard, power forward, and even centre! This shows an incredible ability to play multiple positions, making him a powerful and versatile player.
Some fans and experts even claim that James’ prowess comes down to the fact he’s a jack of all trades – one of the game’s best all-round athletes.
11. James even has a foothold in the entertainment business.
Aside from being a basketball legend, and having been compared to Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, LeBron James has proven that basketball is not his only calling. In fact, he has quite a few interests in showbiz, too!
James has his own production company called SpringHill Entertainment, which produces television shows, documentaries, and films, some of which you may already know!
The company has produced films such as Space Jam: A New Legacy, Hustle, Black Ice, and Shooting Stars.
12. He has also appeared in front of the camera.
LeBron’s work in films and TV shows has not only been behind the camera. For example, in 2007, he co-hosted the ESPY Awards with Jimmy Kimmel. He also hosted the season premiere of Saturday Night Live on its 33rd season.
In the series Entourage, he made a cameo, followed by a different cameo playing himself in the 2015 film Trainwreck. Unsurprisingly, he has received mostly positive reviews for these performances!
And, of course, he played the lead – himself – opposite Bugs Bunny in Space Jam: A New Legacy. The movie picks up decades after Michael Jordan first helped train the Looney Tunes crew to play basketball!
13. He is the co-founder of Uninterrupted.
James is also a co-founder of Uninterrupted, a multimedia platform for athletes.
In 2014, the company raised over $15 million to help grow the company’s efforts to create athlete-created content.
It was co-founded by Maverick Carter, and you can find much of their content on YouTube.
14. James is a famous philanthropist.
James famously created the LeBron James Family Foundation, which focuses on education and community development. The foundation is based in Akron, Ohio, his hometown.
He has also been known to donate vast amounts of money to various charities over the years.
15. He originally left the Cleveland Cavaliers for a bold reason.
In a shocking announcement, LeBron James stated his desire to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers and join the Miami Heat. He announced this on a televised special called “The Decision” in 2010.
This decision sparked much controversy, saddening and angering the fans from his home state.
However, his decision to leave was in pursuit of his first championship, something no one could fault him for!
16. But, he soon returned to the team.
Luckily for homegrown fans, though, LeBron James eventually returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014.
What’s more, he led his home team to their first NBA championship in 2016! However, his time back home turned out to be short-lived – as you’ll find out in the next fact!
17. He then moved on to LA.
In another shocking move, in 2018, James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.
However, his time there has proven to be exactly what he wanted – he’s still playing for the side to this day.
His jersey is the number 6, and he plays small forward and power forward for the team. His jersey number surprised his fans, as he previously wore 23 with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.
In 2023, he won the inaugural NBA Cup with the Lakers.
18. In 2018, he set another NBA record!
LeBron James also made headlines in 2018 for setting another incredible record. He became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 30,000 lifetime career points!
In doing so, he defeated Kobe Bryant’s record by over a year. He set the record while he was still with the Cleveland Cavaliers, although the record surely helped make his move to the Lakers, one of the best teams in the league!
19. He is part of the Banana Boat crew.
The hypothetical team is a dream NBA superteam. Other members of the team are James’ close friends, Chris Paul of the Golden State Warriors, Dwyane Wade, who formerly played for the Miami Heat, and Carmelo Anthony, who formerly played for the LA Lakers.
20. James is married with kids.
LeBron James married Savannah James back in 2013. The two were high school sweethearts and remain together to this day.
They have two sons and a daughter together: Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri.
As it happens, basketball seems to run in the family blood as his son Bronny also appears to be a talented basketball player having been named a MacDonald’s All-American in 2023!
21. He is very politically active.
LeBron James is unafraid of stating his opinion and has been vocal about various social and political issues.
He commonly uses his platform to advocate for causes like racial equality and voter turnout.
The popular magazine Forbes has ranked him one of the most influential athletes in the world. Time magazine also named him one of the most influential people in the world in the Time 100!
22. He is passionate about music, too.
LeBron James has also stated on multiple occasions that he is passionate about music. Although he reportedly is a fan of multiple genres, by his own statements, he has a true passion for hip-hop.
On multiple occasions, he has shared his love and passion for artists such as Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, Eminem, and more.
Who knows, maybe James is also a keen musician and plans on taking over the music world, too? Let’s hope!
23. LeBron’s even a bit of a football fan.
No, not American football but rather British soccer! LeBron James happens to be a part-owner of Liverpool FC (Football Club.)
However, he only owns 2% of the club. That being said, that 2% has proven to be more than enough for the basketball star. He bought his share back in 2011, and the share only appears to have grown in value!
24. He has a pre-game ritual.
Like many professional athletes, LeBron James has his own pre-game rituals. One of his well-known rituals is the chalk toss, in which he throws chalk into the air before games.
One of his former teammates has also revealed that James used to lay his jersey on the floor in the locker room before the game, and no one was allowed to step over it. Apparently, if someone did, James would ask for a clean, new jersey for the game and restart the ritual.
25. He’s a bit of a Batman fan!
LeBron James appears to be quite the fan of the Dark Knight. In fact, James supposedly has a life-sized replica of the Batman mask in his office!
Who’s to say – maybe LeBron will take up the Batman mantle for future movies? He’s certainly no stranger to the big screen!
26. LeBron James is a known foodie.
If you would like to eat like a pro athlete, then it will be no surprise that you must follow a strict diet. For example, LeBron James reportedly eats a lot of salmon, green vegetables, eggs, avocados, etc.
However, he has also stated a few times that his favourite cuisine from around the world is Italian food. That’s a lot of calories to burn – but somehow, we think LeBron manages it pretty well!
27. He has multiple tattoos.
Although it is not known publicly just how many tattoos LeBron James has, it is believed that he has at least 26 artworks inked across his body. Who’s counting?
One of his tattoos, on his back, reads “Chosen 1.” This tattoo is a reference to his high school nickname – “The Chosen One,” funnily enough!
28. He has a strong social media presence.
If you want to know more about LeBron James, you will be glad to know he is very active on social media. He has pages on platforms such as Instagram, where you will find him under the handle “kingjames.”
On his page, you will find a lot of content about his basketball games, interviews, and his experiences off the court, too.
29. He was on a 2002 cover of Sports Illustrated while still in high school.
It’s true! The future King James made the front cover of Sports Illustrated in 2002, when he’d turned 17 years old.
It’s thought James would have been up to join the draft then same year – however, the league wouldn’t allow passage because of his age!
30. LeBron believes in plenty of sleep and red wine!
Work hard, sleep hard – that’s the LeBron James philosophy! James attributes his amazing prowess and success to sleeping for between eight and 12 hours a night.
However, he’s also a big fan of vino – it’s thought he attributes some of his skill to a daily drink! However, don’t follow this to the letter – drinking in moderation is always a must, no matter what the top athletes might tell you!
FAQs About LeBron James
How many rings does LeBron James have?
Currently, LeBron has four championship rings. These rings help to rank him among the greatest NBA players of all time.
What made LeBron James famous?
Above all else, LeBron James’ talents on the basketball court have contributed to his worldwide fame. His abilities have made him one of the best players in the NBA and in basketball worldwide!
Why is LeBron James so loved?
LeBron James is so widely loved and respected thanks to his talents as a basketball player, but also his public persona as a devoted family man, who is also charitable, dedicated, passionate, and kind. That all goes a long way – more than sporting talent alone!
Do you know any fun facts about LeBron James? Share them in the comments below!
