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The following biography
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LeBron Raymone James (IPA: [ləbrɑn dʒeɪmz],
born December 30, 1984 in Akron, Ohio), commonly nicknamed King James,
is an American All-Star small forward in the National Basketball
Association who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Beginning in his junior year of high
school, James was highly promoted by the national media in the United
States as a future NBA star. He was selected with the first overall pick
in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers at the age of 18,
becoming only the second high school player taken at the number one
draft position.
****
Position Small Forward
Nickname King James, The Air Apparent, The
Chosen One
Height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Weight 250 lb (114 kg)
Team Cleveland Cavaliers
Nationality United States
Born December 30, 1984
Akron, Ohio
High school St. Vincent-St. Mary
Akron, Ohio
Draft 1st overall, 2003
Cleveland Cavaliers
Pro career 2003 – present
Awards 2003 Naismith Prep Player of the
Year
2004 Rookie of the Year
2004 ESPY Best Breakthrough Athlete
2006 NBA All-Star Game MVP
Two-time NBA All-Star
Two-time All-NBA selection
2005-06 The Sporting News NBA co-MVP
****
Early life
LeBron James was born an only child in a
low-income area of Akron, Ohio to the unwed Gloria James on December 30,
1984. His mother was only 16 at the time and six months shy of
graduating from high school. Moving frequently from one home to
another,[1] things began to look up for him when his mother began seeing
a man by the name of Eddie Jackson. James was young enough at the time
to have him serve as a father figure; he did not have any contact with
his biological father.[2] Jackson would often be seen supporting James
later on at his high school basketball games. Starting as early as his
junior year in high school, James had made it clear he was planning to
pursue an NBA career following his graduation.
High school
Freshman year
James attended St. Vincent-St. Mary High
School in Akron, Ohio. He was the starting point guard on a team led by
James' future best friend and manager Maverick Carter. Although Carter
is commonly referred to as James' cousin, they are not actually related.
With James at the point and the primacy of Carter, the team cruised to a
perfect 27-0 record and won the Division III state championship.
Sophomore year
James took over the helm of the team after
Carter's graduation and averaged 27.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists,
and four steals for SVSM en route to another state title. He was
subsequently named Ohio's "Mr. Basketball"and selected to the USA Today
All-USA First Team — the first sophomore to be so honored.
An avid football player in addition to
basketball, James was also able to add to his resume the distinction of
being First-Team All-State as a wide receiver for his high school team.
However, injury concerns influenced James to concentrate solely on
basketball.
Junior year
In James' third year of high school his
stats improved even further. He averaged 29.7 points and 8.4 rebounds,
and was once again named Mr. Basketball Ohio. In addition, he again
found a spot on the All-USA First Team, and was named the 2001-02
Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year. It was then that
his nickname "King" James would become a household staple in Ohio.
In his junior year, he appeared in SLAM
Magazine which was the beginning of his nationwide exposure.
However, the St. Vincent-St. Mary
basketball team failed to defend its state title when it moved up to the
more challenging Division II and lost to Cincinnati's Roger Bacon High
School. James attempted to declare for the NBA Draft, petitioning for an
adjustment to the NBA's rules of draft eligibility, which then required
the completion of high school by a prospective player. The petition was
unsuccessful, but it led to an unprecedented level of attention on him
as he entered his senior year. By then, "King" James had already
appeared on the covers of Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine. His
popularity soared to new heights, forcing his team to move from their
playing at the school gym to the nearby James A. Rhodes Arena at the
University of Akron. Celebrities such as Shaquille O'Neal attended some
of the games, hoping to get a glimpse of the prodigious young basketball
player. A few of James's high school games were even televised
nationally on ESPN2 and regionally on pay-per-view.
Senior year
Gloria James touched off a firestorm of
controversy when she was allowed to use her son's future earning power
as collateral to secure a bank loan to buy an $80,000 Hummer H2 for her
son's 18th birthday, prompting an investigation by the Ohio High School
Athletic Association (OHSAA). Under the OHSAA guidelines, no amateur may
accept any gift valued over $100 as a reward for athletic performance.
When James later accepted two throwback basketball jerseys worth $845
from NEXT, an urban clothing store in Shaker Square, in exchange for his
posing for pictures to be displayed on the store's walls, OHSAA stripped
him of his eligibility. James appealed and a judge blocked the ruling,
reducing the penalty to a two-game suspension and allowing him to play
the remainder of the season. However, James's team was forced to forfeit
one of their wins as a result.
Despite the distractions, the Irish won a
third state title, and James, for an unprecedented third time, was named
Mr. Basketball Ohio and to the All-USA First Team. He earned MVP honors
at the McDonald's All-American Game, the EA Sports Roundball Classic,
and the Jordan Capital Classic. Although it was a foregone conclusion,
by participating in more than two high school all-star events, James
officially lost his NCAA eligibility.
NBA career
Rookie season
James was the first overall pick of the
2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Because of immense public interest in
James, he became an instant celebrity. Even before he played a single
NBA game, he was awarded an unprecedented $95 million shoe contract by
Nike.
Facing the Sacramento Kings in his first
NBA game, he scored 25 points in addition to nine assists, six rebounds,
and four steals on 12-of-20 shooting . He earned Rookie of the Year
honors, finishing his rookie season with 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and
5.9 assists per game. He joined Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan as
the only three players in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 5
rebounds, and 5 assists per game in a rookie season. The Cavaliers
improved by 18 wins in his first season, but failed to make the
playoffs.
2004-05 season
Following his rookie campaign, James played
for Team USA in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece where he and
his teammates won the bronze medal in men's basketball, the first time
an American Olympic team using NBA players (called the Dream Teams)
failed to win the gold medal. Due to coach Larry Brown's preference for
experienced players, James didn't see much playing time.
In the 2004-2005 season, James became the
youngest player to register a triple-double and the youngest player to
score 50 points in one game. In the process he was selected to his first
All-Star team. James's season averages also improved drastically (27.2
ppg, 7.4 rpg, and 7.2 apg). Again, the Cavaliers failed to reach the
playoffs, finishing two games over .500.
2005-06 season
The Cavaliers made several off-season moves
in the summer of 2005, adding Larry Hughes , Damon Jones, and Donyell
Marshall. The Cavs' front office underwent substantial management
changes at this time as well. Long-time owner Gordon Gund sold the
franchise to Dan Gilbert, who subsequently replaced General Manager Jim
Paxson with former Cavs player Danny Ferry, and brought in Mike Brown as
the new head coach.
At the 2006 NBA All-Star Game, James led
the Eastern Conference team to victory with a 29-point, six-rebound
performance. He was awarded the game's MVP, becoming the youngest player
to do so.
James finished the season with 31.4 points,
7.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game, joining Oscar
Robertson, Jerry West and Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA
history to average at least 30 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in a
single season. James also became the youngest player in NBA history to
average at least 30 points per game in a season. During one stretch
James scored 35 or more points in nine consecutive games. The only other
players since 1970 to accomplish that feat were Michael Jordan and Kobe
Bryant.
MVP candidacy
Following the 2005-2006 regular season,
James was one of the top candidates for the NBA Most Valuable Player
Award. He was third in the league in scoring, and a close second in the
league in PER behind Dirk Nowitzki. He also finished first among
forwards with 6.6 apg and 31.4 ppg [3]. James finished second to Steve
Nash of the Phoenix Suns in MVP voting.
James was awarded co-MVP honors with Nash
by The Sporting News, an award given by that publication based on voting
of the thirty General Managers in the league.
Playoffs
On March 29, 2006, the Cavaliers clinched a
playoff spot for the first time since 1998. In three years, James had
transformed the Cavaliers from a lottery team (17-65 the season before
he arrived) into a playoff contender, ending the 2005-2006 season with a
50-32 record, 4th in the Eastern Conference.
On April 22 James made his playoff debut
against the Washington Wizards and recorded a triple-double, with 32
points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds in the Game 1 victory. He became the
third player in NBA history to register a triple-double in his playoff
debut, joining Johnny McCarthy (1960) and Magic Johnson (1980).
Subsequently, in Game 2, James fell one rebound shy of a second
consecutive triple-double in as many games, with 32 points, 10 assists,
and 9 rebounds. On April 28 in Game 3, he became the first player to
score over 40 points in his first playoff road game, with 41 in a win
over the Wizards. The series sparked controversy on whether or not the
referees favor NBA stars like Lebron due to plays where he appeared to
commit travelling but were not called. The Cavaliers won the series 4
games to 2, and James tallied 35.7 points per game while shooting 51%
from the field. His scoring average is third all-time behind Wilt
Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for a player's first playoff series.
James led the Cavaliers to a 3-2 series
lead over the defending Eastern Conference champion and divisional rival
Detroit Pistons, a feat thought to be near impossible, considered the
Pistons' strong reputation as a feared defensive as well as offensive
team. The Pistons, however, eliminated the Cavs by winning the final two
games.
James averaged 30.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and 5.8
apg in his first ever playoff appearance in the NBA.
Contract extension
James has negotiated a contract extension
for three years (with a player option for a fourth year) worth $60
million that will begin in the 2007-08 NBA season. The deal is for fewer
years (and less money) than the maximum contract he could sign, but
would lead to free agency faster. Also in the NBA, a player with fewer
than 7 years experience can only be paid a maximum of 25% of a team's
salary cap. A player beyond 7 years experience can receive 30% of a
team's salary cap under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement that
took effect in the 2005-2006 NBA season. This has augmented concerns
that he may leave for a bigger market, once the three-year contract
expires.
United States National Team
James played in the U.S. National Team at
the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, and on the 2006 World Championships
in Japan. Despite the high expectations, the team has finished with
bronze medals both times.
James has been named as one of three
captains for the USA Men's Basketball National Team from 2006-2008,
alongside Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. After failing to win the 2006
World Championships, the team will have to compete at the Tournament of
Americas Olympic Qualifiers in 2007 in order to qualify for the 2008
Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Player profile
The two-time All-Star and 2006 All-Star MVP
LeBron James mostly plays the guard / forward position. He has
established himself as a legitimate triple-double threat, averaging 26.5
points, 6.6 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game. In the 2005-06 season,
James ranked among the league leaders in triple-doubles, and has 11 in
his career (9 - Regular Season, 2 - Postseason). James is considered one
of the few players in the league who can at times play three or more
positions, combining the length and quickness of a small forward, the
size of a power forward, court vision and ball-handling of a two guard
or point guard. During the All-star game, James started as the shooting
guard for the East.
James' overall skill sets and on-court play
have led to comparisons to NBA greats such as Magic Johnson and his
childhood idol Michael Jordan (both considered guards)[4]. Due to James'
versatile gameplay, others consider him more in the vein of the
legendary Oscar Robertson, who was known for his great all-around play.
James relies on his quickness, size and strength to get to the basket,
and is skilled at drawing contact and the resulting foul. In the 2006
season he led the league in completed traditional three point plays.
Among issues of his game, James' is not known for his defense. He has
yet to be featured on any of the NBA all-defensive teams [5].
Statistics
SEASON TEAM GP MPG SPG BPG RPG APG PPG Hi
40+ 50+ TD MVP
'03-04 Cleveland 79 39.5 1.65 0.73 5.5 5.9
20.9 41 1 0 0 9th
'04-05 Cleveland 80 42.4 2.21 0.65 7.4 7.2
27.2 56 5 1 4 6th
'05-06 Cleveland 79 42.5 1.56 0.84 7.0 6.6
31.4 52 10 2 5 2nd
TD = Triple-doubles
MVP = MVP voting
Awards and honors
Olympic medal record
Men's Basketball
Bronze 2004 Athens United States
NBA highlights
TSN NBA Co-MVP: 2006
NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2006
2-time NBA All-Star: 2005, 2006
2-time All-NBA:
First Team: 2006
Second Team: 2005
NBA All-Rookie First Team: 2004
NBA Rookie of the Year: 2004
TSN NBA Rookie of the Year: 2004
NBA regular-season leader, field goals
made: 2005 (795)
NBA regular-season leader, minutes played:
2005 (3,388)
Career 40+ Point Games (Regular Season): 16
(as of the end of 05-06 season)
Career 50+ Point Games (Regular Season): 3
(as of the end of 05-06 season)
Career 40+ Point Games (Postseason): 2 (as
of the end of 05-06 season)
Career triple-doubles (Regular Season): 9
(as of the end of 05-06 season)
Career triple-doubles (Postseason): 2 (as
of the end of 05-06 season)
Led the league in traditional three-point
plays with (79) in the 2005-06 NBA season[6]
NBA milestones
James owns numerous NBA "youngest player"
records:
Youngest player in NBA history and the
first Cavalier to be named NBA Rookie of the Year, at 19 years of age.
Youngest player in NBA history to record a
triple-double in his career (20 years, 20 days), with 27 points, 11
rebounds, and 10 assists on January 19, 2005 vs. the Portland Trail
Blazers.
Youngest player in NBA history to score 50
points in one game (20 years, 80 days), with 56 points vs. the Toronto
Raptors on March 20, 2005.
Youngest player in NBA history to score
2000 points in a season (2004-2005 season).
Youngest player in NBA history to average
30 points per game in a season (2005-2006 season).
Youngest player in NBA history to reach:
1,000 points*
2,000 points*
3,000 points*
4,000 points*
5,000 points*
6,000 points at age 21 years, 89 days,
record set on March 29, 2006 vs. the Dallas Mavericks.
7,000 points at age 21 years, 351 days,
record set on December 23, 2006 vs. the Orlando Magic.
Youngest player in NBA history to win an
All-Star Game MVP (21 years, 55 days)
Youngest player in NBA history to be named
to the All-NBA first team (21 years, 138 days)
Personal records
One of only three players in NBA history to
average at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in his rookie
season (joining Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan).
One of only five players in NBA history to
average over 25 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in a season (joining
Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson and John Havlicek)
One of only four players in NBA history to
average at least 30 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in a single season
One of only three players since 1970 to
record nine straight games of scoring 35 or more points.
One of only three players in NBA history to
record a triple-double in his playoff debut (joining Magic Johnson and
Johnny McCarthy).
The first player to score more than 40
points in his first playoff road game, with 41 points in Game 3 of the
2006 NBA Playoffs.
Cavaliers franchise records (10)
Points
Game: 56 (March 20, 2005 vs. Toronto
Raptors).
Game, playoffs: 45 (May 3, 2006 vs.
Washington Wizards).
Half, playoffs: 25 (1st half, April 30,
2006 vs. Washington Wizards)[7]
Quarter: 21 (4th quarter, April 5, 2006 vs.
New York Knicks).
Quarter, playoffs: 18 (1st quarter, April
30, 2006 vs. Washington Wizards)[7].
Season: 2,478 (2005-06)
Scoring average, all-time: 26.5
Scoring average, month: 32.9 (March 2006)
[8]
Consecutive games scoring at least 35
points: 9 (March 22–April 8, 2006) [9]
Field goals made
Game: 19 (3 times, most recently April 5,
2006 vs. New York Knicks)
High school achievements
2001
USA Today All-USA First Team (first
sophomore to receive this honor)
Ohio Mr. Basketball (first sophomore to
receive this honor)
Adidas ABCD Camp Underclassmen MVP
2002
USA Today High School Player of the Year
Gatorade Circle of Champions National
Player of the Year
USA Today All-USA First Team
Ohio Mr. Basketball
2003
USA Today High School Player of the Year
Gatorade Circle of Champions National
Player of the Year
USA Today All-USA First Team
Ohio Mr. Basketball
Ohio Division II Player of the Year
Naismith High School Player of the Year
Morgan Wootten Award (McDonald's National
Player of the Year)
McDonald's High School All-American
McDonald's High School All-American Game
MVP
Jeremy Nathaniel Memorial Classic MVP
Jordan Capital Classic MVP
EA Sports Roundball Classic MVP
Advertising and Promotions
In 2003 Nike signed Lebron to a $100
million shoe contract. Lebron has also signed endorsement contracts with
Bubblicious, Sprite, Powerade, and Upper Deck. In 2005, Nike released a
series of advertisements called "Meet the LeBrons", featuring Lebron in
four distinct personalities.
Trivia
He has one son, LeBron James Jr., born on
October 6, 2004, to Savannah, James' high school sweetheart.
During his senior year, Lebron was the #2
ranked football prospect out of the state of Ohio behind Maurice Clarett
as a wide receiver.
Wore jersey #32 as a freshman while at
Saint Vincent-Saint Mary High School before later adopting the number
#23 in tribute to Michael Jordan. He currently still wears #23 with the
Cavaliers.
He made a guest appearance on his favorite
show, The Simpsons, in the episode "Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass".
At the Black Entertainment Television
Awards in 2006, James won the "Best Male Athlete" award.
Since July 2005, James's agent is the
Philadelphia-area attorney Leon Rose; previously, his agent was Aaron
Goodwin.
He is a confidant of William Wesley[10].
He wore jersey #6 in the United States
national basketball team in 2006
Although he shoots right-handed, James
writes and performs most tasks with his left.
James appears on the cover of video game
NBA Street Showdown.
Has appeared on a cover of XXL magazine
with Jay-Z, Teairra Mari, Peedi Peedi, Freeway, Kanye West and Foxy
Brown.
Guitarist Buckethead recorded the song King
James as a tribute to James on his 2006 album Crime Slunk Scene.
On October 30, 2006, James was the nightly
guest on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Stewart (who is about a foot
shorter than James) stood on his desk to greet him.
Shares his December 30 birthday with Kenyon
Martin of the Denver Nuggets, Hall of Fame baseballl player Sandy
Koufax, Tennessee Titans football player Kerry Collins and golfer Tiger
Woods.
Notes
-
^
http://cleveland.about.com/od/famousclevelanders/p/lebron.htm
-
^
http://espn.go.com/magazine/vol5no26next.html
-
^ 2006 NBA Season
Summary. basketball-reference.com.
-
^ DuPree, David. "King
James' next conquest", USA Today, April 21. Retrieved on August 21.
-
^ All-Defense Selections
by Player. Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved on August 21, 2006.
-
^ Make LeBron shoot two:
Haywood's hard foul alters Cavaliers-Wizards series. AP (April 26,
2006). Retrieved on August 21, 2006.
-
^ a b Arenas fuels Wiz
with spectacular second half. Associated Press (April 30, 2006).
Retrieved on August 21, 2006.
-
^ LeBron James Named
NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Month. Retrieved on August
21, 2006.
-
^ James, Cavaliers End
Nets’ Winning Streak. nba.com (April 8, 2006). Retrieved on August
21, 2006.
-
^ Windhorst, Brian.
"Mystery man behind scenes", Akron Beacon Journal, June 5, 2005.
****
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