Famous Athletes Biography: Lebron James

Thursday 29 March 2012

Lebron James

Lebron James Biography

LeBron James, born December 30,1984, in Akron, Ohio, showed an early talent for basketball and continued to shine on the court throughout high school. He was the first player picked (by the Cleveland Cavaliers) in the 2003 NBA draft. During the 2003-2004 season, he became the first member of the Cavalier franchise and the youngest player ever (at age 20) to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

CONTENTS

Synopsis

High School Basketball Star

Drafted to the NBA

NBA Star

Leaving the Cavaliers

High School Basketball Star

Basketball player. Born December 30th, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. LeBron James has emerged as one of the leading players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). At an early age, he showed a natural talent for basketball. James was recruited by St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to join their basketball team in 1999.

As a freshman, James averaged 18 points per game. He helped the team to a Division III state title by scoring 25 points in the championship game. Word of his advanced basketball skills spread, and James received several honors for his performance. As a high school sophomore, he was chosen for the USA Today All-USA First Team. James was the first sophomore ever selected for this award. His team also won the Division III state title for the second year in a row.

The following school year, he was named PARADE magazine's High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year and Gatorade Player of the Year. Sportswriters were comparing him to such legendary basketball stars as Michael Jordan. After the end of his junior year, James was such a strong player that he contemplated turning professional.

Deciding to finish his education, James had a tremendous senior year on the court. He averaged 31.6 points per game, helping his team clinch their third state title. The team also earned the top national ranking that year. Overall, James scored 2,657 points, 892 rebounds, and 523 assists during his four years at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.

Drafted to the NBA

With his impressive record, it was no surprise that James was the first player picked in the 2003 NBA draft. The Cleveland Cavaliers signed the powerful young forward, and he proved to be a valuable addition to the then-struggling franchise. The team had ended the previous season in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Around this time, James also signed several endorsement deals, including one with Nike for $90 million.

During the 2003-2004 season, James made history, becoming the first member of the Cavalier franchise to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award. He was also the youngest player ever at only 20 years old to receive this honor. Averaging 20 points per game, James was one of three rookies to accomplish this feat, putting him in the same company as Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson.

During the summer of 2004, James made his Olympic debut at the summer games in Athens, Greece, as part of the U.S. Olympic Basketball Team. He and his teammates won bronze medals after defeating Lithuania. Argentina took home the gold after beating Italy in the finals.

Outside of sports, James went through some changes in his personal life around this time. He became a father for the first time in October 2004 when he and girlfriend Savannah Brinson welcomed a son, LeBron Jr.

NBA Star

James continued to excel professionally in the NBA the following season, upping his average points per game to 27.2. He again made NBA history in 2005 by becoming the youngest player to score more than 50 points in one game. He was selected for the NBA All-Star game for the first time, a feat he would repeat several times over the next few seasons.

In 2006, James helped his team defeat the Washington Wizards in the first round of playoff action. From there, the Cavaliers took on the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference semifinals. James scored an average of 26.6 per game in this postseason match-up, but it wasn't enough to secure victory for his team. While his team wasn't at the top of rankings, James himself continued to receive special recognition for his abilities. He was named the Most Valuable Player in the NBA All-Star Game in 2006. That same year, James reached a new contract agreement with the Cavaliers, which runs until 2010.

The Cavaliers proved to be stronger competitors the following season, making it all the way to the NBA finals, beating out Detroit to win the Eastern Conference. In the finals against the San Antonio Spurs, however, the Cavaliers lost their championship bid in four consecutive games. Also during this time, James became a father for the second time. His girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, gave birth to their son Bryce Maximus in June.

In the 2007-2008 season, James continued to help the Cavaliers improve their standing in the Eastern Conference. The team made it to the semifinals where they were defeated

Lebron James