LeBron James
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Birthdate: December 30, 1984

Birthplace: Akron, Ohio, United States

Occupation: Professional basketball player

LeBron James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, United States. During his early years, his family met challenging times, requiring them to move constantly as his mother was trying to secure steady employment. His mother, Gloria Marie James, soon realized that a stable family environment would be best for James and thus allowed him to move in with the family of Frank Walker, a local youth football coach who also introduced James to basketball when he was nine years old. James took to the sport quickly.

Later on, James played basketball under the Amateur Athletic Union for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars team. With James and his friends, Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, and Willie McGee, the team enjoyed great success. The four then attended high school together in St. Vincent-St. Mary High School and joined the school’s varsity team. This was when James started to shine and gain attention. 

Before the start of his junior year, James was featured in an American basketball magazine, Slam. The writer talked about James as possibly “the best high school basketball player in America right now” – a foreshadowing of even greater success for the athlete further down the line. Within that same season, James also appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, a well-known American sports magazine, thereby becoming the first high school basketball player to be featured that way.  

In the 2003 NBA draft, James was selected as the first overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. By the end of the season, James was the first-ever Cavalier to ever receive the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.  In 2004, James was selected for his first-ever NBA All-Star Game which showcases the top 24 players within the league. He would participate in many more All-Star Games later on. And in both 2006 and 2008, he was named as the NBA All-Star Game’s Most Valuable Player. 

James became an unrestricted agent in July 2010 and was promptly contacted by several teams like the Bulls, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and many more. James then announced on a live ESPN special titled “The Decision,” that he would sign with Miami Heat. He officially signed with the Heat on the 10th of July, 2010. Through the years playing for the team, LeBron James honed his skills even further and continued to excel in the sport – even amidst criticisms. In 2012, he was the NBA Finals MVP and Champion. He also won an Olympic Gold medal within the same year for the second time since the first Olympic gold medal he won in 2008. 

In 2014, James revealed through a first-person essay in the Sports Illustrated magazine that he was intending to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers – a message that was well-received. The very next day, he officially signed with the team. Within the following season, the Cavaliers were able to advance to the Finals, losing only two games along the way. James continued to deliver excellent performance on the court.

In 2018, James became an unrestricted agent once more and was soon signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James continues to excel in the sport, securing many loyal fans from all over the world. So far in his career, he has won four NBA championships and four NBA MVP Awards – a number of MVP awards matched only by Michael Jordan. Because of his consistency, determination, and unparalleled skill in the sport, many consider him as one of the best basketball players in history.