[9] James became just the third player to record a triple-double in an NBA Finals Game 7,[187] and behind series averages of 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 2.6 steals per game,[184] he also became the first player in league history to lead both teams in all five statistical categories for a playoff round, culminating in a unanimous Finals MVP selection. ", "LeBron May Be The Most Clutch Playoff Shooter Of His Generation", "LeBron James' defensive assignment allows versatility for Miami Heat", "Here's proof LeBron James is exiting the prime of his career", "NBA No-Defense Team: Carmelo Anthony, Enes Kanter and Regular Season LeBron James get the big honors", "It's defense that makes 'Playoff LeBron' a thing", "James Answers the Hype with Standout Debut", "Hype over LeBron doesn't match Alcindor's", "LeBron takes 2013 Kia Most Valuable Player award", "LeBron James one win away from history: 10th NBA Finals appearance", "Where This Year's Cavs Rank Among LeBron's NBA Finals Supporting Casts", "LeBron's 24 Finals record is one of his greatest achievements", "SI's 50 greatest players in NBA history", "All-Time #NBArank: Counting down the greatest players ever", "Ranking the top 74 NBA players of all time: Nos. [110][111] As part of the first player-created NBA superteam[112] he became only the third reigning MVP to change teams and the first since Moses Malone in 1982. He is one of the most accomplished basketball players of the 21st century. [91] The day before the special, fellow free agents Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade also announced that they would sign with Miami;[92] reports later arose that back in 2006 the trio had discussed among themselves their upcoming 2010 free agencies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". He is the owner of a film production company called SpringHill Company. A Broken Wrist in High School Sealed His Basketball Fate. [121] The Heat eventually turned their season around and finished as the East's second seed,[122] with James averaging 26.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7 assists per game on 51 percent shooting. "[496] On December 6, 2021, Rittenhouse said in response that "I was a Lakers fan too before he said that. [281] James led all players in fan votes with his 18th All-Star selection, tying Bryant and just one behind Abdul-Jabbar;[282] his team achieved its fifth consecutive All-Star win,[283] defeating Team Durant 163161,[284] with James hitting the game-winning dagger shot in front of his hometown crowd. Geni requires JavaScript! [310] On December 2, in a 133129 win against the Milwaukee Bucks, James recorded 28 points and 11 assists. ", "LeBron James Says He Wants to Play into 40s, Alongside Both Sons", "LeBron James Says His 3 Kids Are the 'Greatest' Things in His Life", "Roster announced for the 2023 McDonald's All-American Game", "Miami heat: LeBron James buys $9M mansion in Coconut Grove, Fla", "LeBron James Snags Brentwood Mansion for $21 Million", "LeBron James buys a second home in Brentwood for $23million", "The Dirty Diet Behind LeBron James' Supernatural Rig", "LeBron James says he drinks wine every day, and he believes it's good for his heart. I am so desperate for more ACCOUNTABILITY. [9] [10] The contract extension made James the highest-paid athlete in NBA history at $528.9M, surpassing Kevin Durant in all-time earnings. "[492], On August 27, James and his Lakers teammates, as well as the Milwaukee Bucks, began boycotting the 2020 NBA playoffs to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake. [534] In 2016, CNBC aired an unscripted series hosted by James called Cleveland Hustles, where four up-and-coming Northern Ohio entrepreneurs will be financed on the condition of revitalizing a neighborhood in Cleveland. [199] The next month, James won his third All-Star Game MVP Award, after posting 29 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and several key plays to help Team LeBron win over Team Curry. [4], In the Conference Semifinals, James and his teammates found themselves matched up with the Celtics for the second consecutive year. It consists of Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, his mother Gloria James, his wife Savannah James, and his childeren Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri James. LeBron James Lakers. [4] In Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs, he registered 41 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists against the Pacers, leading Cleveland to a comeback victory after trailing by 25 points at halftime, representing the largest halftime deficit overcome in NBA playoff history. [357] He holds numerous "youngest to" distinctions,[358][359] including being the youngest player to score 30,000 career points. var referer="";try{if(referer=document.referrer,"undefined"==typeof referer||""==referer)throw"undefined"}catch(exception){referer=document.location.href,(""==referer||"undefined"==typeof referer)&&(referer=document.URL)}referer=referer.substr(0,700); [254][255] They were up 21 before Davis suffered a strained groin in Game 4, in which James finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-for-21 shooting, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. [178], During the 201516 season, James was criticized for his role in several off-court controversies, including the midseason firing of Cavaliers' coach David Blatt. James left CAA for Paul in 2012. [542] A Def Jam press release said the intent of the album is "celebrating black excellence and focusing on the power of education and entrepreneurship." [373] Despite these changes, he remained an elite offensive player who beat defenses with body control, strength, and varying attacking speeds. A scene in Space Jam: A New Legacy. [192] In Game 5 of the Conference Finals against the Celtics, James scored 35 points and surpassed Michael Jordan as the league's all-time postseason scoring leader. [218] He missed a then career-high 17 consecutive games, and the Lakers fell out of playoff contention without him. The four-time NBA champion was born to Gloria Marie James and Anthony McClelland. She was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. [223] James immediately embraced Los Angeles's much-improved roster by transforming his playing style, moving to full-time point guard, and competing with a more consistent defensive effort. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. When Lebron was two she started dating Eddie Jackson who was in and out of trouble. [454] Since 2005, the foundation has held an annual bike-a-thon to raise money for various causes. [285][286], In March, James recorded two 50-point games, which were also his Lakers' career-high,[287][288] becoming the oldest player to have multiple 50-point games in a season, as well as the first Lakers player since Bryant in 2008 to have back-to-back 50-point home games; it was James's 15th 50-point game in his 19-year career, including the postseason. [293] Due to an ankle injury in late March, James missed out on a close three-players run for the NBA scoring title,[294][295][296] having only played 56 games, two less than the necessary to qualify;[297] aged 37, he would have broken Jordan's record of oldest scoring leader at 34. $74.99 Quick Shop. After his fourth season with the Heat in 2014, James opted out of his contract to re-sign with the Cavaliers. [530] Series produced by SpringHill include the NBC game show The Wall,[531] the Disney XD sports documentary show Becoming,[532] the Starz sitcom Survivor's Remorse,[533] and the animated web series The LeBrons. [152] At the beginning of the series, he was criticized for his lack of aggressiveness and poor shot selection as Miami fell behind 23. 1 Color. [16] The team enjoyed success on a local and national level, led by James and his friends Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, and Willie McGee. Her mother had a large house and when Gloria was unable to pay for it, she was forced to move from place to place. 'A lot of people have a fear of missing out,' Neeter. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 10-1", "CBS Sports' 50 greatest NBA players of all time: Where do LeBron, Curry rank? [130] He was eventually named 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. Gloria lived with her mother throughout her pregnancy and after Lebron was born until her mother died when Lebron was three. [483] His statement drew backlash from some Hong Kong protesters[484][485] and in February 2022, political commentator Bill Maher called James hypocritical for not taking a critical stance towards China's human rights abuses. James played basketball for St. VincentSt. [184] James responded by registering back-to-back 41-point games in Games 5 and 6, leading the Cavaliers to two consecutive wins to stave off elimination. [93] James decided to join with Bosh and Wade in part so that he could shoulder less of the offensive load; he thought that his improved teammates would give him a better chance of winning an NBA championship than had he stayed in Cleveland. [27] Later in the season, James accepted two throwback jerseys worth $845 from an urban clothing store in exchange for posing for pictures, officially violating OHSAA rules and resulting in his being stripped of his high school sports eligibility. [82] Due in part to his increased minutes as the Cavaliers' primary ball handler, James increased his statistical production, averaging 29.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1 block per game on 50 percent shooting en route to another MVP Award. [319][320] On January 19, James was named as a starter at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record for the most All-Star selections (19). "[548], In November 2020, James became an angel investor of the tequila and mezcal company Lobos 1707. They have three children: two sonsBronny and Bryceand a daughter Zhuri. [52], In 20062007, James's averages declined to 27.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. [226] In early March, before the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, James led the Lakers to a victory over the Bucks in a matchup of conference leaders, followed by a streak-breaking win against the Clippers. [201] James eventually finished the season with averages of 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 4.2 turnovers per game. Is this the direction our country is heading? He was heavily touted by the national media as a future NBA superstar. [457] In 2017, he received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award from the NBA for his "outstanding service and dedication to the community. [56] In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, James notched 48 points with 9 rebounds and 7 assists, scoring 29 of Cleveland's last 30 points, including the game-winning layup with two seconds left in a double-overtime game against the Pistons. The biggest story of the NBA right now is the status of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.There is now some clarity regarding his injury, and it looks like he will be out for 2-3 weeks . [516] In 2013, he surpassed Bryant as the highest paid basketball player in the world, with earnings of $56.5million. [197] Their turnaround began with a victory over the Wizards on November 3 where James scored 57 points, which represented the second-highest point total of his career and tied a franchise record. She met LeBron while she was attending Buchtel Community Learning Center. [493] In response, senior White House advisor Jared Kushner stated that he was planning to reach out to James regarding the boycott. I'd sit across from Barack [Obama] though. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out,
James Jr., James, James. [515] As a result of James's endorsement money and NBA salary, he has been listed as one of the world's highest-paid athletes. [451][452][453] He also has his own charity foundation, the LeBron James Family Foundation, which is based in Akron. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. [154] In Game 7, he tied the Finals record for most points scored in a Game 7 victory, leading Miami over San Antonio with 37 points. [177] Behind his leadership, the Cavaliers opened the series with a 21 lead before being eliminated in six games. The press release also says the title "challenges the notion that the only way out of the inner city is either to become a rapper or a ball player. At just 16 years of age, she got pregnant with LeBron, and he was born on Dec. 30, 1984. [19] For his outstanding play, James was named Ohio Mr. Basketball and selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team, becoming the first sophomore to do either. [123] James received the brunt of the criticism for the loss, averaging only three points in fourth quarters in the series. His accomplishments include four NBA championships, four NBA MVP awards, four NBA Finals MVP awards, and two Olympic gold medals. [449], In March 2008, James became the first black man, as well as the third man overall after Richard Gere and George Clooney, to appear on the cover of Vogue, when he posed with Gisele Bndchen. "[458] In November of that same year, the Akron School Board approved the I Promise School, a public elementary school created in a partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation to help struggling elementary school students stay in school. He later deleted the post, explaining: "I'm so damn tired of seeing Black people killed by police. They spent six or so years bouncing. He recorded 516 30-point games in 1,386 career appearances. [28] This prompted an investigation by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) because its guidelines stated that no amateur may accept any gift valued over $100 as a reward for athletic performance. 2. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. [448] All jerseys worn in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game were auctioned by the NBA and NBPA to raise funds for charity; James's jersey sold for $630,000, setting a record for a modern-day sports jersey. [232] In Game 5, James had his best statistical performance of the Finals with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists in a memorable duel with Miami's Jimmy Butler, but Los Angeles was ultimately defeated in a three-point game. [306][307] The contract extension made James the highest-paid athlete in NBA history at $528.9million, surpassing Kevin Durant in all-time earnings. This move was announced in an ESPN special titled The Decision, and is one of the most controversial free-agent decisions in sports history. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game against the Boston Celtics Nov. 19, 2021, at the TD Garden in Boston. Abdul-Jabbar had previously set the record on April 5, 1984,[324] 8 months before James was born. [195], Prior to the start of the 201718 season, the Cavaliers overhauled their roster by trading Kyrie Irving to the Celtics, who requested a trade in part because he no longer wanted to play with James. [522], James and comedian Jimmy Kimmel co-hosted the 2007 ESPY Awards. [544], In June 2022, it was announced James is launching a media company in partnership with professional tennis player Naomi Osaka and Maverick Carter's SpringHill Company. During an excursion to the Bahamas, James rescued Anthony from the water when Anthony was carried away from the boat by the current. [118] To begin the year, they struggled to adjust to these new circumstances, going only 98 after 17 games. The basketball player's mom was 18 years old, and his father was 20 when their first son was born. Lakers' LeBron James: Expected to miss extended time. Lebron James 2023 All-Star Edition. [557][558], Throughout his career, James has taken a unique approach to his NBA contracts, usually opting to sign shorter-term deals in order to maximize his earnings potential and flexibility;[111][559][560] in 2006, he and the Cavaliers negotiated a three-year, $60million contract extension instead of the four-year maximum as it allotted him the option of seeking a new contract worth more money as an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 season. [217] The team was unable to recover and failed to qualify for the postseason, marking the first time that James missed the playoffs since 2005. [446], Memorabilia associated with James is highly sought after; two of James's rookie cards are among the most expensive basketball cards ever sold at auction, and one of those cards also briefly held the record for the most expensive modern-day sports card when it sold for $1.8million at auction in July 2020. (Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) The show's co-creator Paul . [123] In Game 5, he scored Miami's last ten points to help seal a series-clinching win. The Irish were also forced to forfeit one of their wins, their only official loss that season. He has a heavy exercise regimen and dietary habits that some consider atypical for a top athlete. On August 18, 2022, James re-signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-year, $97.1M deal. She Raised Lebron Alone When LeBrons grandmother died of a heart attack, Gloria was left all alone to raise him herself at the age of 19. [250] In an injury-laden season, the Lakers ended with a 4230 record, finishing No. [361][362] His combination of speed, quickness, and size often created matchup problems for opposing teams because he was capable of blowing by larger defenders and overpowering smaller ones. [322][323], On February 7, 2023, in a 133130 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, he scored his 38,388th point to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the record-holder for almost 39 years, to become the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. When a Twitter user criticized him saying that AD and LeBron James would be on "The First 48" for . The news comes after the Lakers' 111-108 win against the Dallas . [265][266] From December 19 to February 26, 2022, playing 23 out of 27 games, he had a streak of 23 consecutive 25-point games. Mary went on to win the Division II championship, marking their third division title in four years. [512] His signature shoes have performed well for Nike. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. [14]:22 His father, Anthony McClelland, has an extensive criminal record and was not involved in his life. The boy's father was long gone, so he took his mom's last name. [301] It marked the fourth time in James's career that he missed the playoffs. Mary varsity basketball team. Learn how your comment data is processed. [443] By 2013, his image had mostly recovered and he was reported by ESPN as the most popular player in the NBA for the second time in his career. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. [475] He has worn his clothing in a show of support several times. [171] A month after James's signing, the Cavaliers acquired Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves, forming a new star trio along with Kyrie Irving. James won his first two NBA championships while playing for the Heat in 2012 and 2013; in both of these years, he also earned league MVP and Finals MVP. LeBron James Father: A side-by-side picture of King James and his rumored father. [129] James spent more time in the post and improved his shot selection and accuracy on jump shots. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. [333][337] 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. [113] 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. [445] He has led the league in jersey sales six times. [486] James has taken various other stands on issues regarding sports, such as the Kaepernick controversy and the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. and fuck you all 5 How old was LeBron James when he was born? [102][103] As a result of his actions during the 2010 free agency period, he quickly gained a reputation as one of America's most disliked athletes, which was a radical change from prior years. [156], On March 3 of the 201314 season, James scored a career-high and franchise-record 61 points in a game against the Charlotte Bobcats. [105][108][109], James officially signed with the Heat on July 10, 2010, through a sign-and-trade deal which sent two second- and two first-round draft picks to the Cavaliers and gave the team the option to swap first round picks with the Heat in 2012. [164], On June 25, 2014, James opted out of his contract with the Heat, and on July 1, he officially became an unrestricted free agent. [447] A Mike Trout rookie card broke the record for a modern-day card the following month. Named the 2004 NBA Rookie of the Year,[6] he soon established himself as one of the league's premier players, winning the NBA MVP award in 2009 and 2010 and leading the Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals appearance in 2007. [390], James left high school as one of the most hyped prospects in NBA history. [374] His playmaking ability is generally considered one of his premier skills, and some analysts rank him among the greatest passers in NBA history. [334] James's behavior was again questioned, this time by teammate Bruce Bowen, who confronted James during tryouts regarding his treatment of staff members. [317] On January 16, James had a season high 48 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in a 140132 win over the Houston Rockets. His father, Anthony McClelland, was an ex-convict, which left James' mother to raise him as best as she could as a single mother. [467] Following a racist incident at his Los Angeles home in 2017, James expressed that "being black in America is tough. [340] In the final game, James turned in 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists against Spain. That is voter suppression. [9] In 2018, James exercised his contract option to leave the Cavaliers and signed with the Lakers, where he won the 2020 NBA championship and his fourth Finals MVP. [521] In 2011, James co-founded the designer retail store UNKNWN in Miami, Florida. Mary home basketball court named The LeBron James Arena, 2020 Outstanding Long Sports Documentary (as, 2021 Outstanding Edited Sports Series (as executive producer of, 6 Cleveland Sports Awards Professional Athlete of the Year: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2015, 2016, South Main Street in downtown Akron renamed King James Way, Six-story commemorative banner in downtown Akron, Featured on "Cleveland is the Reason" mural in, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 18:55. [233] The Lakers finally eliminated the Heat in Game 6, which earned James, who averaged 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game during the series,[234] his fourth NBA championship and fourth Finals MVP award. [67] 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". [177] For most of the Finals against the Golden State Warriors, Irving and Love were sidelined due to injury, giving James more offensive responsibilities. [95] James would be relieved of the burden of scoring, and he thought he could be the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double in a season. [427] James drinks wine every night, believing that it is good for his heart. In 2016, he led the Cavaliers to victory over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals by coming back from a 31 deficit, delivering the franchise's first championship and ending the 52-year Cleveland sports curse. [96] 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's actions. [547] This was related to James's use of the term on Instagram for his family's taco dinners. [142], In February of the 201213 season, James averaged 29.7 points and 7.8 assists per game while setting multiple shooting efficiency records. [27], Also during his senior year, James was the centerpiece of several controversies. "[495], On November 10, 2021, in response to Kyle Rittenhouse having an emotional break down in court, James tweeted "What tears????? [41] Cleveland ultimately finished the season 3547, failing to make the playoffs despite an 18-game improvement over the previous year. [78][79] For the series, he averaged 38.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 8 assists per game,[80] finishing the postseason with a career playoff-high 35.3 points per game. " My mom. [494], On April 21, 2021, in response to the death of Ma'Khia Bryant, James took to Twitter and posted a picture of the police officer who is believed to have fatally shot Bryant, saying: "YOU'RE NEXT #ACCOUNTABILITY." [83] To open the playoffs, Cleveland advanced past the Bulls to earn a matchup with the Celtics in the second round. I know its the 1600s but James has a significant amount of English and Scottish ancestry at this point. LeBron James/Grandparents. [163] For the Finals, James averaged 28.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game. "[468] Later on that year, in the aftermath of the Unite the Right rally, James questioned the "Make America Great Again" slogan and said: "It's sad what's going on in Charlottesville. [269] He also became the oldest player in NBA history to record at least 25 points in ten straight games, doing so at 37 years old. He has won four NBA championships (two with the Miami Heat, one each with the Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers), and has competed in 10 NBA Finals. [191] The Cavaliers 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. [14]:143 For the year, James averaged 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.4 steals per game,[19] was named Ohio Mr. Basketball and selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team for an unprecedented third consecutive year,[14]:178 and was named Gatorade National Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. [360] During his first stint in Cleveland, he was primarily used as an on-ball point forward, and although his shooting tendencies were perimeter-oriented,[129] he established himself as one of the best slashers and finishers in basketball. LeBron James. [118] Behind James's expanded skillset,[129] Miami began the year with a franchise-best 186 record. NBA legend LeBron James is complaining that his inflammatory warning to the Ohio cop who shot and killed 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant is "being used to create more hate" and racism. [305], On August 18, 2022, James re-signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-year, $97.1million contract. [538] Later that month, Fox News host Laura Ingraham told James to "shut up and dribble" as a response to his political agendas. I didn't see one. [182] James's final averages were 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game on 52 percent shooting. [524] He has also tried his hand at acting, appearing in a cameo role on the HBO series Entourage. Michael Jordan/Wife. [31], As an underclassman, James played wide receiver for St. VincentSt. Many thought that 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. 1 Color. [81] Behind his leadership, Cleveland lost no momentum, finishing the year with the best record in the league for the second consecutive season. [70][399] His teams have appeared in the Finals ten times and won four championships; his ten Finals appearances are tied for third all-time. James reportedly paid less than $1 million for a 10% stake in the pizza chain in 2012, which has grown to more than 300 locations in North America, according to Forbes . Freda Jamesvia Gloria Marie James LeBrons James' mother, Gloria James, was 16 years old, just a girl, when she had her first and only child, a son. Gloria Marie James was born on Feb. 4, 1968. On several occasions, he mentioned a feeling of obligation to effect change using his status. [194] Behind averages of 33.6 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists per game, James became the first player to average a triple-double in the Finals, but Cleveland was defeated in five games. LeBron James is likely to be missing in action for an extended period of time with an injured right foot, per The Athletic. Stay up to date with NBA player news, rumors, updates, analysis, social feeds, and more at FOX Sports. He was born to parents named LeBron James and Savannah James as their second son. Mary played at the University of Akron's 5,492-seat Rhodes Arena to satisfy ticket demand from alumni, fans, as well as college and NBA scouts who wanted to see James play. [417][418] Davis et al. [137] Miami won Game 7 to advance to the Finals, earning them a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder and James's budding rival Kevin Durant. [419][421][422] Bronny was named a McDonald's All-American in 2023, 20 years after James's selection. [381], At the beginning of James's NBA career, he was considered a poor defensive player,[382] but he improved steadily through the years. [271][272][273] In the same period, he surpassed Oscar Robertson for 4th all-time free throws made,[274] and Alvin Robertson for 10th all-time in career steals. [536][537] In February 2018, it was announced that James's production company will produce a new film in the House Party series with James expected to make a cameo. [19] He participated in three year-end high school basketball all-star gamesthe EA Sports Roundball Classic, the Jordan Capital Classic, and the McDonald's All-American Gamelosing his National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility and making it official that he would enter the 2003 NBA draft.