Friends,
No one in NBA history has been under as much pressure and scrutiny as Lebron James. In 2002, as a junior, on the cover of Sports Illustrated, he was labeled the “Chosen One.” He’s already broken countless records and won multiple championships. LeBron will go down as one of the greatest players in NBA History. No one can dispute his greatness on the basketball court. But what if I told you his off-the-court resume is arguably better?
LeBron is from Akron, Ohio, and is known for doing amazing things in the community. One of those happens to be his “I Promise School.”
IPS is a joint initiative between Lebron’s Family Foundation and the Akron Public School System. The school is dedicated to students who are already falling behind and in danger of falling through the cracks. In addition to its traditional services, the school offers a host of programs that extend beyond the classroom.
“Today the school includes a family resource center that provides a wide range of services to parents, including mental health, financial literacy, legal aid and GED courses. Just down the street from the school, the foundation provides rent-free housing to as many as 16 different families — when needed — and it has plans to build 50 units of affordable housing” (Reynolds,2023).
The school is a major accomplishment, but let’s take a look at some of LeBron’s other off-the-court deals.
“James is a pitchman for Nike, GMC, AT&T and many more multinational companies. He owns a piece of the Boston Red Sox and England’s Liverpool football club. His entertainment company, SpringHill — named after the modest apartment complex he grew up in — is valued at $725 million and has produced movies for HBO and Netflix” (Reynolds, 2023)
According to many reputable sources, LeBron James is a billionaire. He’s been in a position to help for a very long time. But long before he reached billionaire status, LeBron knew he wanted to put his childhood friends in a position to win.
“Throughout his whole journey, LeBron has had his closest friends (who are also his business partners) right by his side. LeBron, Rich Paul, Maverick Carter and Randy Mims founded the marketing firm LRMR. LRMR creates successful partnerships between iconic athletes, performers and brands, leveraging relationships and consumer insight to implement innovative and impactful marketing initiatives” (Herring, 2023).
Rich, Randy, and Maverick have gone on to make names for themselves while still maintaining close relationships and helping the “LeBron James Brand” advance to new heights.
We can sit here and talk about all the money, the fame, the legacy, and awards. But let’s not forget about LeBron James, the family man.
First, he’s the husband of Savannah James. The couple met in high school and have been married for 10 years. They have 2 boys, LeBron “Bronny” James and Bryce Maximus, and 1 girl, Zhuri Nova.
The Family
Savannah James is a professional interior designer and founder of S.J. Skincare.
LeBron’s oldest son Bronny ( a four-star basketball recruit) suffered a cardiac arrest before the 2023-24 season. He plays college basketball for the USC Trojans and is currently awaiting game-time action.
Bryce Maximus ( a three-star basketball recruit) is currently a junior in high school. He recently transferred to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California.
Zhuri Nova is nine years old and is already a famous YouTube personality. Her channel is named “All Things Zhuri” with over 260,000 subscribers.
LeBron is more than a basketball player. He’s opened doors for so many people around the world. And with his basketball career coming to a close in the next few years, I can see him doing so much more. He’s lived up to and surpassed all the expectations. Above all, I love how he is with his wife and kids. There seems to be a lot of love in the home. I can’t wait to see what LeBron has in store for us post-basketball.
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Joseph Thompson is a Professional Registered Nurse with a love and passion for sports. Check out his medium profile and get notified when he publishes new content. Thank you for your support!
References
Herring, D. (2023, February 9). Legend making legends: How Lebron James’ talent & loyalty opened the door for his friends to become millionaire businessmen also. Global Grind. https://globalgrind.com/5563701/making-legends-lebron/
Reynolds, T. | A. (2023, February 6). Lebron James’ off-court legacy complements NBA Success. NBA.com. https://www.nba.com/news/lebron-james-off-court-legacy-complements-nba-success
You missed calling him the GOAT on the court. Just Kidding. Good article