LeBron James

Biography

James was the most hyped schoolboy athlete in American history — Sports Illustrated put him on its cover at 17 — and somehow exceeded the hype: four titles with three franchises, the scoring record, and a media and philanthropy empire, all while remaining an elite player into his forties.

American basketball player widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time, still adding to his records in his third decade in the NBA.

Known for

The NBA's all-time scoring record and four championships.

Notable works & defining projects

• Cleveland Cavaliers (2016 title)
• Miami Heat (2012–13 titles)
• Los Angeles Lakers (2020 title)

Notable achievements

• Became the NBA's all-time leading scorer in February 2023, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
• Won four NBA championships and four NBA MVP awards
• Won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA (2008, 2012, 2024)

Timeline

1. 2003Drafted No. 1 overall straight out of high school by Cleveland
2. 2016Delivered Cleveland's first NBA title, coming back from 3–1 down in the Finals
3. 2023Passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time scoring leader

Did you know?

• His foundation opened the I PROMISE School, a public school for at-risk children in Akron, in 2018
• Forbes named him the NBA's first active billionaire player in 2022