LeBron James

Football

As an underclassman, James played wide receiver for St. Vincent–St. Mary's football team. He was recruited by some Division I programs, including Notre Dame. At the end of his second year, James was named first team all-state, and as a junior, he helped lead the Fighting Irish to the state semifinals. James did not play during his senior year because of a wrist injury that he sustained in an AAU basketball game. Some sports analysts, football critics, high school coaches, as well as former and current professional players have speculated that James could have played in the National Football League (NFL).

Professional career

Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010)

2003–2004: Rookie of the Year

The Cleveland Cavaliers selected James as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft. James chose jersey number 23 in honor of Michael Jordan. In his first regular season game, James scored 25 points in a 106–92 loss to the Sacramento Kings, setting an NBA record for the most points scored by a prep-to-pro player in his debut performance. At the conclusion of the 2003–04 season, James became the first Cavalier to receive the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. and only the third player in league history to average at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game as a rookie.

2004–2008: Rise to superstardom

In the 2004–05 season, James earned his first NBA All-Star Game selection, contributing 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in a winning effort for the Eastern Conference. Teams took note of his rapid development, and Denver Nuggets coach George Karl told Sports Illustrated: "It's weird talking about a 20-year-old kid being a great player, but he is a great player... He's the exception to almost every rule." On March 20, James scored 56 points against the Toronto Raptors, setting Cleveland's new single-game points record. At the end of the season, James was named to his first All-NBA Team. The Cavaliers again failed to make the playoffs, finishing the season 42–40. During the 2006 offseason, James signed a three-year, $60 million contract extension with the Cavaliers, with the option for a fourth year.

At the 2006 All-Star Game, James led the Eastern Conference to victory with 29 points and was named the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (MVP). He finished second in overall NBA MVP Award voting, behind Steve Nash. Under James's leadership, the Cavaliers qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1998. In his postseason debut, James recorded a triple-double in a win over the Washington Wizards. In Game 3, he made the first game-winning basket of his career, and another in Game 5. Cleveland defeated the Wizards before losing to the Detroit Pistons in the second round.

The Cavaliers finished the 2006–07 season with 50 wins and entered the playoffs as the second seed in the Eastern Conference. In the first two rounds, James led the team to wins over the Wizards and New Jersey Nets, earning them a matchup with the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals. In Game 5, James logged 48 points with nine rebounds and seven assists in a 109–107 double-overtime win. He scored the last 25 points for the Cavaliers, and performed a game-winning layup with 2.2 seconds left. In 2012, ESPN ranked James's performance as the fourth greatest in modern NBA playoff history. The Cavaliers won the series in six games, granting them their first NBA Finals appearance, which pitted them against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs defeated the Cavaliers in a four-game sweep.

On December 11, 2007, James came off the bench for the first time in his career. He chose to enter the game at the same time as his teammate Anderson Varejão—who had been involved in a pay dispute with Cavaliers management—to prevent fans from booing Varejão. In February of the 2007–08 season, James was named All-Star Game MVP for the second time after a 27-point, eight-rebound, and nine-assist performance. On March 21, he surpassed Brad Daugherty as the Cavaliers' all-time leading scorer. James's 30 points per game were the highest in the league, marking his first scoring title. Seeded fourth in the East entering the playoffs, the Cavaliers defeated the Wizards, before being eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the next round.

2008–2010: MVP seasons

At the end of the 2008–2009 season, James finished second in the voting for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. He made his first NBA All-Defensive Team, with 23 chase-down blocks and a career-high 93 total blocks. With James's play and the acquisition of All-Star guard Mo Williams, Cleveland went a franchise record 66–16; James became the first Cavalier to win the MVP Award. John Hollinger of ESPN described James's season as "arguably the greatest individual season in history".

In the 2009 playoffs, Cleveland swept the Pistons and the Atlanta Hawks to earn a matchup with the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavaliers lost Game 1, despite James scoring 49 points on 66 percent shooting. In Game 2, James hit a game-winner to tie the series 1–1. Cleveland lost the series in six games; following the loss, James left the court without shaking hands with his opponents, which was viewed as unsportsmanlike by some. James averaged 35.3 points per game during the playoffs.

In February of the 2009–10 season, James was forced into a temporary point guard role following injuries to players in the Cavaliers' backcourt. With James's leadership, Cleveland finished the year with the best record in the league. James shot over 50% on field goals for the first time in his career, and he received his second NBA MVP Award. To open the playoffs, Cleveland advanced past the Chicago Bulls to earn a matchup with the Celtics in the second round. James was criticized for not playing well in Game 5, shooting only 20 percent on 14 shots and scoring 15 points. The Cavaliers suffered their worst loss in franchise history; at the conclusion, James walked off the court to boos from Cleveland's crowd. The Cavaliers were eliminated from the postseason in Game 6.

Miami Heat (2010–2014)

The Decision

James became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2010. He was contacted by several teams, including the Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, and Cavaliers. On July 8, James announced on a live ESPN special titled The Decision that he would sign with the Heat. The special was broadcast from the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, Connecticut and raised $2.5 million for the organization. An additional $3.5 million was raised from advertising revenue, and was donated to other charities. The day before the special aired, fellow free agents Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade announced they would sign with Miami. James joined with Bosh and Wade in part so he could shoulder less of the offensive load, and he thought he would have a better chance of winning an NBA championship with the Heat. Heat president Pat Riley played a major role in convincing James to play on the team with Bosh and Wade. James would be relieved of the burden of scoring, and thought he could be the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double in a season. James, Bosh and Wade were referred to as an NBA superteam.

Upon leaving the Cavaliers, James drew criticism from executives, fans, and current and former players. The Decision was viewed as unnecessary. Many thought the prolonged wait for James's 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 a letter to fans in which he denounced James's actions. Some angry fans of the team recorded videos of themselves burning his jersey. Former NBA players, including Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, were critical of James, condemning him for forming a superteam with Bosh and Wade in Miami and not trying to win a championship in Cleveland. Some commentators defended James's decision to join Miami by noting the Cavaliers' inability to build strong support around him. They argued other NBA greats had benefitted from talented teammates. James drew further criticism in an interview with CNN when he claimed race might have been a factor in the fallout from The Decision. The phrase "taking my talents to South Beach" became a punch line for critics. James later expressed regret over his handling of The Decision.

2010–2011: Year of media and fan scrutiny

James signed a 6-year, $110 million contract with the Heat on July 10, 2010. He changed his jersey number to 6, as the number 23 was retired in Miami for Michael Jordan. The Heat threw a welcome party for the "Big Three" at the American Airlines Arena, during which James declared that the Heat would win multiple championships. Outside Miami, the spectacle was badly received, furthering negative perception of James.

Throughout the 2010–11 season, the media and opposing fans treated James as a villain. The Heat struggled to adjust to these new circumstances, going only 9–8 after 17 games. James later admitted the negativity made him play with an angrier demeanor. On December 2, James faced the Cavaliers in Cleveland for the first time since departing. He scored 38 points and led Miami to victory while being booed every time he touched the ball. The Heat turned their season around and finished as the East's second seed.

In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Heat played the Boston Celtics. In Game 5, James scored the Heat's last 10 points in a series-clinching win. After the buzzer, James knelt in an emotional moment, later telling reporters it was an extremely personal victory for him and the team. The Heat advanced to the Finals, where they lost to the Dallas Mavericks. James's Finals average of 17.8 points per game was a 9-point drop from the regular season, the largest drop-off in league history. Some analysts and commentators questioned the Heat's offensive hierarchy during the series, arguing that head coach Erik Spoelstra appeared to defer to Dwyane Wade at times rather than centering the offense around James.

2011–2013: Back-to-back championships

The 2011–12 season was delayed by a lockout. During that summer, James worked with Hakeem Olajuwon to improve his post up game. As the start of the season approached, James set a goal for himself to leave behind the "villain role" that he had embraced, and said he was hoping to regain a sense of joy on the court. Miami began the year with a franchise-best 18–6 record, and James was named MVP for the third time.

In the second round of the playoffs, Miami lost Bosh to an abdominal injury and found themselves trailing the Indiana Pacers two games to one. James responded with a 40-point, 18-rebound, and nine-assist outing in Game 4 to even the series. To compensate for Bosh's absence, the Heat embraced a small-ball lineup with James at power forward, which they retained after Bosh's return in the conference finals against the Celtics. Facing elimination in Game 6, James recorded 45 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Heat to victory in a "career-defining performance". Miami won Game 7 to advance to the Finals, earning them a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In Game 5, James registered a triple-double as the Heat defeated the Thunder for their second-ever championship and James's first. James was voted Finals MVP with averages of 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. His full postseason run was ranked the second best in modern NBA history.

During January of the 2012–13 season, James became the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points. In February, he averaged 29.7 points and 7.8 assists while setting shooting efficiency records. The Heat began a 27-game winning streak, which is the third longest in NBA history, and James's performance was described as a "month for the ages". Miami finished with a franchise and league best 66–16 record, and James was named MVP for the fourth time, falling one vote shy of becoming the first player to win unanimously.

The Heat won the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers, then faced the Spurs in the Finals. James was criticized for his lack of aggressiveness and poor shot selection, as Miami fell behind 2–3. In Game 6, James recorded his second triple-double of the series, including 16 fourth quarter points, to lead the Heat to a comeback victory. The Heat proceeded to win Game 7, marking their second consecutive championship. James was named Finals MVP for the second straight season.

2013–2014: Final season in Miami

On March 3 of the 2013–14 season, James scored a career-high 61 points against the Charlotte Bobcats. He also set a record for the most three-point field goals made in a 60-point game. Miami earned their fourth consecutive Finals berth, again facing the Spurs. In Game 2, James led the Heat to a series-tying victory with 35 points on a 64 percent shooting rate. San Antonio defeated the Heat in five games, ending Miami's quest for three consecutive championships.

Return to Cleveland (2014–2018)

In June 2014, James opted out of his contract with the Heat and became an unrestricted free agent. He returned to the Cavaliers, signing a two-year, $42 million contract, and switched back to the No. 23 jersey. In contrast to his departure four years earlier, his announcement to return to Cleveland was well received.

2014–2016: Ending Cleveland's championship drought

In January of the 2014–15 season, James missed two weeks due to knee and back strains, which was the longest stretch of missed games in his career at the time. The Cavaliers advanced to the Finals against the Golden State Warriors, making James the first player since the 1960s to play in five consecutive Finals. Cleveland took a 2–1 series lead, but lost in six games.

During the 2015 offseason, James declined his $21.5 million player option and re-signed with Cleveland on a two-year, $47 million contract that carried a second year player option. During the 2015–16 season, there was speculation that James played a role in the firing of Cavaliers coach David Blatt. Despite this distraction, Cleveland finished with 57 wins and the best record in the East. The Cavaliers advanced to the NBA Finals, losing only two games en route to a rematch with the Warriors, who were coming off a record-setting 73-win season.

To begin the series, Cleveland fell behind 3–1. James responded by registering 41-point games in Games 5 and 6, leading the Cavaliers to consecutive wins. In Game 7, he posted a triple-double and made a clutch block on the Warriors' Andre Iguodala as Cleveland claimed victory, becoming the first NBA team to come back from a 3–1 deficit in the Finals. The win also marked the city of Cleveland's first professional sports title in 52 years. James became the third player to record a triple-double in an NBA Finals Game 7, and averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 2.6 steals during the series. He was unanimously selected as the Finals MVP. During a White House ceremony honoring the Cavaliers for their victory, President Obama praised James's work ethic, determination, selflessness and his "insistence on always making the right play."

2016–2018: End of second stint in Cleveland

James opted out of his player option and re-signed with the Cavaliers on a three-year, $100 million contract, in which the final year was a player option. The 2016–17 season was marred by injuries and unexpected losses for the Cavaliers; James described it as one of the strangest years of his career. Cleveland finished the season as the East's second seed, with James averaging 26.4 points and career highs in rebounds (8.6), assists (8.7), and turnovers (4.1) per game.

Los Angeles Lakers (2018–2026)

2018–2019: Injury and playoff miss

In June 2018, James opted out of his contract with the Cavaliers and became an unrestricted free agent. He signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year, $153.5 million contract. James's agent Rich Paul explained: "In 2010, when he went to Miami, it was about championships. In 2014, when he went back

Media and business interests

Entertainment

James hosted the 33rd-season premiere of Saturday Night Live in 2007, and co-hosted the 2007 ESPY Awards with Jimmy Kimmel. In 2012, James had a cameo role on the HBO series Entourage, and in 2015 he appeared as himself in the Judd Apatow film Trainwreck. Also in 2015, James's digital video company Uninterrupted raised $15.8 million from Warner Bros. Entertainment and Turner Sports to expand its efforts to bring athlete-created content to fans. Uninterrupted is hosted on the website Bleacher Report and has been used by athletes such as Rob Gronkowski and Richard Sherman. In 2017, Uninterrupted produced the documentary The Carter Effect, which was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.

James and his business partner Maverick Carter own the production company SpringHill Entertainment. The company's first project was the documentary More Than a Game (2009), which chronicled James's high school years. Series produced by SpringHill include the game show The Wall, the sports documentary series Becoming, the sitcom Survivor's Remorse, and the animated web series The LeBrons. In 2016, CNBC aired a reality series hosted by James called Cleveland Hustles, which featured aspiring entrepreneurs competing to open businesses under the mentorship of a Cleveland investor. In 2023, SpringHill and Warner Bros. released a reboot of the House Party film series, which contains a cameo by James.

James was the executive producer of rapper 2 Chainz's 2019 album Rap or Go to the League. A press release said the album celebrates "black excellence" while challenging "the notion that the only way out of the inner city is either to become a rapper or a ball player." In June 2022, it was announced that James was launching a media company, Hana Kuma, in partnership with the professional tennis player Naomi Osaka and Maverick Carter.

In March 2024, James and JJ Redick launched a podcast called Mind the Game, where the two have "pure conversations about basketball." The podcast was suspended after Redick was hired as head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers in June 2024. In March 2025, a second season was announced with Steve Nash replacing Redick as James's co-host.

Investments and other ventures

In 2012, James, Maverick Carter and Paul Wachter made an investment of less than $1 million in the Pasadena-based fast casual chain Blaze Pizza; their investment had grown to $25 million by 2017. James later became a spokesman for the company and began appearing in advertisements after ending his contract with McDonald's.

James partnered with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2018 to found Ladder, a company that developed nutritional supplements to help athletes with severe cramps, which James experienced during the 2014 NBA Finals.

During the 2019 offseason, James filed for a trademark on the term "Taco Tuesday" for use in downloadable audio and visual works, podcasts, social media, online marketing, and entertainment services. James had used the term on Instagram to refer to his family's taco dinners. The request was denied by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, stating that "Taco Tuesday" was "a commonplace term, message or expression widely used by a variety of sources that merely conveys an ordinary, familiar, well-recognized concept or sentiment." In November 2020, James became an angel investor of the tequila and mezcal company Lobos 1707.

After personal frustration with comments on the Black Lives Matter movement made by Republican U.S. senator Kelly Loeffler, who at the time was the owner of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream, James assisted Dream player Renee Montgomery in her successful bid to buy the team in March 2021. That same year, James joined Fenway Sports Group as a partner, making him a part-owner of the Boston Red Sox, New England Sports Network, RFK Racing, and Liverpool F.C.; he had already owned a two-percent share in Liverpool F.C. individually. The investment made James and Carter the company's first black partners.

In June 2022, James said that once he finishes playing basketball, he would like to own an NBA team located in Las Vegas, Nevada, either through expansion or relocation. However, in March 2026 he said he was not interested in being part of an ownership group for a Las Vegas franchise. In August 2022, James and the rapper Drake became part owners of the Italian soccer club A.C. Milan. James is also a part owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.

Social activism

James has taken public stances on various social issues—many of them controversial—and has mentioned a feeling of obligation to effect change using his status. These issues include the War in Darfur, the killing of Trayvon Martin, Donald Sterling's racist comments in 2014, the Michael Brown verdict, the death of Eric Garner, the U.S. national anthem kneeling protests, the shooting of Breonna Taylor, the death of Ma'Khia Bryant, Kyle Rittenhouse, the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal and the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.

After a racial slur was painted on the gate of James's Brentwood home in 2017, he commented on the difficulty of being black in the United States. He said, "We got a long way to go for us as a society and for us as African Americans until we feel equal in America." In 2018, Fox News host Laura Ingraham told James to "shut up and dribble" in response to his political statements. That same year, James used Ingraham's statement as the title for a Showtime documentary film series he produced, Shut Up and Dribble, which examines the role of athletes in politics and culture.

In October 2019, NBA executive Daryl Morey expressed support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. After James said Morey was "misinformed", James was criticized by protesters in the movement, with many using racist language against him on social media. In February 2022, political commentator Bill Maher called James hypocritical for not taking a critical stance towards the Chinese government's human rights abuses.

On August 27, 2020, James and his Lakers teammates, as well as the Milwaukee Bucks, began boycotting the 2020 NBA playoffs to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake. In response, senior White House advisor Jared Kushner said he planned to reach out to James regarding the boycott. Following a players' committee to discuss the boycott, James and others spoke with former president Barack Obama, who reportedly advised them to continue playing and finish the NBA season.

In June 2008, James donated $20,000 to a committee in support of Barack Obama's 2008 U.S. presidential election campaign. Later that year, James gathered almost 20,000 people at Rocket Arena for a free Jay-Z concert and a viewing of Obama's 30-minute American Stories, American Solutions television advertisement. Eight years later, James campaigned for Hillary Clinton during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

In 2017, James called U.S. President Donald Trump a "bum" after Trump withdrew a White House invitation to Stephen Curry. The following year, James accused Trump of attempting to divide the country with sports, and declared that he would never sit across from Trump. In August 2020, James announced his support for the campaign of Joe Biden for the 2020 U.S. presidential election. James spoke in support of the More Than a Vote movement, encouraging African-Americans to vote and criticizing voter suppression. In October 2024, James announced his support for Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

In October 2023, following the October 7th attacks in Israel, James voiced his support for Israel on Instagram. His statement drew backlash for its omission of the Palestinians affected by the ensuing Gaza war.