LeBron James Biography
Biography
James captured the attention of the nation with his incredible exploits in high school. Following a solid freshman year on a Division III state championship team, he put together an exceptional sophomore campaign in 2000-01 where he averaged 25 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals, in addition to another state championship. He was named Ohio's "Mr. Basketball" and USA Today selected him for the All-USA First Team, the first sophomore to be honored with such a nomination. He added to his resume by being first-team all-state in high school football.
LeBron's talents were becoming well known by the rest of the nation in his junior year, and eventually he would earn the nickname "King". As a junior, he showed no letdown and averaged 29 points and 8 rebounds and was once again named Mr. Basketball and again had a spot All-USA First Team. The team lost the state championship that year as it moved to Division II but LeBron's reputation was already well intact. His talent was great enough that James attempted to declare for the NBA draft as a high school junior, trying to adjust the rule stating that a player must finish high school to be eligible. He would be unsuccessful but it set the tables for a senior season with LeBron getting much more attention than any high school athlete before him.
"King" James was already on the covers of Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine while still in school and was already working out multi-million dollar shoe contracts while a senior. The attention he was receiving was so great that his high school games were available on pay-per-view and some games were even televised nationally. While he dazzled people with his on-the-court play, his off-the-court doings were becoming as well publicized. He was under a great deal of controversy when he received a Hummer, worth about $50,000, as a gift that was percieved by some to threaten his amateur status in the state. A rule for Ohio high schools states that by "capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving gifts of monetary value", an athlete must forfeit amateur status. He was cleared of wrongdoing with the vehicle without punishment, as his mother provided documentation. He was not as lucky after accepting a pair of throwback jerseys, worth only $845 all-told, free from a clothing store. This would be a direct violation of the rule and he was declared ineligible on January 31st. The team was forced to forfeit one of their schools wins as a result.
Fans in Akron were outraged at the decision to suspend their native son's high school career, and lawyers for LeBron appealed the ruling. On February 5th he was given reinstatement by a temporary restraining order which blocked the ruling. He proved as good as he'd been before by scoring 52 after his return. James continued to wow fans with his play. By the end of the season, it was the same story, earning unprecedented third selections as Ohio's Mr. Basketball and on the All-USA First Team, also earning a third state championship. He highlighted this dream season by appearing at three high school all-star games, the McDonald's All-American Game, the EA Sports Roundball Classic, and the Jordan Capital Classic (which he had a $10 million insurance policy on), and he earned MVP honours in all three.
To very little surprise, LeBron officially declared for the draft on
April 25th. He prepared for his professional debut by signing a contract
with
Nike for a mere $90 million over 7 years. Virtually a consensus #1
pick for the 2003 draft, the NBA Draft Lottery was thought of as the "LeBron
Lottery". The hometown
Cleveland Cavaliers had the best chance to get King James, although
during his senior year he had shown issues with some facets of the
organization. When the Cavaliers successfully drew the first pick,
however, James had no issues with joining the team. Cleveland confirmed
his selection as the #1 pick over a month before the draft, as well as
finishing off contract negotiations in advance.
During his rookie season, James largely met the extremely high
expectations placed on him. He was named Rookie of the Year and nearly
led his team, previously the worst in the NBA, to the playoffs. James is
often associated with fellow rookie sensation Carmelo Anthony, though he
has begun to separate himself as he continues to improve while Carmelo's
image has taken multiple hits. On November 27, 2004, he scored his
2,000th point, becoming the youngest player ever to attain that mark.
Kobe Bryant had previously held the record, having reached his 2,000th
point at 20 years, 183 days. At 19 years, 272 days old, James was a full
277 days younger than Bryant had been when he reached the mark. On
December 28, 2004 his face was injured when he was jumping towards
Houston Rocket Dikembe Mutombo. The aftermath was that he had to wear a
facial mask for protection of his healing process.
On January 20, 2005, James achieved yet another milestone as he became
the youngest player in league history to record a Triple-double with 27
points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as the Cavaliers rolled to a 107-101
victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The second-year star reached
the mark at 20 years, 20 days, breaking the record held by Lamar Odom,
who was 20 years, 54 days when he posted a triple-double for the Los
Angeles Clippers on December 30, 1999 -- James' 15th birthday.
On March 20, 2005, James scored 56 points in a loss to the Toronto
Raptors. At 20 years, 80 days old, James eclipsed Rick Barry as the
youngest player to score 50 or more points in a game. Barry was 21
years, 261 days old when he scored 57 for the San Francisco Warriors
against the New York Knicks, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
On April 19, 2005, after recording 32 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists
against the Boston Celtics, James became the youngest player to reach
3,500 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists. At 20 years and 110 days
of age, he is more than two years younger than the previous record
holder Kobe Bryant (22 years 161 days) and Magic Johnson (22 years 231
days).
Lebron Lightning LemonadeMuch like one of his predecessors, Michael
Jordan, James has been signed by many companies to sell their products
via advertisements, including Coca Cola, which contracted him to sponsor
their Sprite product. In March 2005, bubble gum brand Bubblicious
launched the Lebron James Lightning Lemonade flavor. The Coca Cola brand
Powerade sports drink included James in a commercial in which an
off-duty sports reporter and crew accidentally catch James during his
team's practice making 5 shots in a row, starting from three-quarter
court and moving steadily backward to full court, which was made
possible by computer effects. A similar commercial involves Michael
Vick of the NFL throwing a pass into the upper deck of a stadium during
practice.
In only his second year in the NBA, LeBron James became just the 5th
player to average at least 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists for an
entire season, along with Oscar Robertson (6 times), John Havlicek (2
times), Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan (1 each). Yet despite his
prodigious talents, James failed to lead his Cleveland Cavaliers to the
playoffs in his first two years in the league, while fellow 2003
draftees Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade experienced some playoff
success. Frustration with Cleveland management has fueled talk that
James will leave the franchise when his rookie contract expires,
although James has denied that he is looking to leave the organization.
The 2006-07 season
Lebron James was elected to his third
consecutive All-Star game appearance during the 2006-07 season. He
played a game high 32 minutes and finished with 28 points, 6 rebounds,
and 6 assists.] In the regular season, the Cavaliers tied the previous
season's record with 50 wins and clinched the second seed of the Eastern
Conference on the last day of the season. For the season, James averaged
27.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. LeBron
started the season with a 38 point, 5 assist, and 8 rebound performance
in the 94-93 win against the Boston Celtics in November. LeBron's best
month came in March, when he averaged 30.3 points per game, 7.0 assists
per game, and 6.7 rebounds per game as the Cavs went 11-5 for the month.
At the end of the season, he joined Oscar Robertson as the only players
in NBA history to average 27 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists for three
consecutive years.
In the first round of the playoffs, James led the Cavaliers to their
first sweep in franchise history over the Washington Wizards in four
games. It was also the first time the franchise has won consecutive road
playoff games. For the series, James averaged 27.8 points, 7.5 assists,
and 8.5 rebounds. In the second round of the playoffs, James led the
Cavaliers to a 4–2 series victory over the New Jersey Nets. He averaged
25.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 8.6 assists in the series, as the
Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time
in 15 years.
In Game 1 of the Conference Finals, James was scrutinized by most in the
media for passing up a 6-foot shot near the end of the game, instead
passing to Donyell Marshall, who missed an open three-point shot. After
losing Game 2 where he did take the final shot, the series moved back to
Cleveland with the Cavs down 0-2. In Game 3 with the Cavs up 84-82,
James hit a 14 foot jumper to seal the game. He also poured in 32
points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. In Game 4, in the waning seconds James
hit two free throws to seal the game again. James had 25 points, 11
rebounds and 7 assists.
In Game 5, James scored 48 points, had 9 boards and had 7 assists;
including 29 of Cleveland's last 30 points, all coming after the six
minute mark in the fourth quarter, and the team's last 25 points
(franchise record) in Cleveland's double-overtime Game 5 victory. James
was the only player to score for the Cavaliers in the two overtimes
played. NBA analyst Marv Albert referred to James's performance as "one
of the greatest performances in NBA history."The 48 points set a
Cavaliers record for points scored by a player in a playoff game.
James had a rough shooting night in Game 6 scoring only 20 points, but
rebounded and passed well and his teammates did enough for the Cavaliers
to lead Cleveland to a 98-82 win and their first trip to the NBA Finals
in franchise history, against the San Antonio Spurs.
In the 2007 NBA Finals, Lebron James played four solid games but was
unable to come out with a single win, which led to the San Antonio Spurs
capturing their fourth title.
All see: Lebron James Shooting