The debate of which basketball player is the greatest of all time has been on the lips of many for decades. It has been a topic that has torn the opinion of many basketball fans over the years, with everyone justifying why their position is most logical. Amid this debate, one of the notable names that keeps coming up is the Legendary Lebron James.
Lebron Raymond James, or King James, was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. Whether you consider him the GOAT or not, he is one of the greatest all-round players to grace the game of basketball. He has won NBA championships with the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the La Lakers.
In 2023, James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record and became the all-time leading NBA top scorer. But there is more to King James than just the record for the highest-scoring basketball player.
Here are five amazing facts every basketball fan should know about Lebron.
1.Lebron Was the First African American on the Cover of Vogue:
Lebron James made history as the first African American man to ever appear on the Vogue Magazine cover in April 2008. While this was a significant milestone for the player, the fanfare was short-lived as people complained the cover might have been perpetuating racism. However, others saw nothing wrong with the cover.
Those who criticized the cover were concerned with how Lebron James and supermodel Gisele Bundchen posed. It depicted James dribbling a ball with one hand while the other held the model’s waist. In addition, James’ picture indicated his alter ego on the court, where his face, baring his teeth, was full of passion.
This cover took the hit from those who believed it was feeding into the stereotype that black men are conquering and aggressive. In response to the heat, the magazine’s spokesman said they were simply celebrating two stars who were on top of their game.
On the other hand, James told the Plain Dealer in Cleveland that he was merely showing a little emotion. And true to his word, his passion for the game has seen him rise as the top scorer in basketball history.
2.James Is Ambidextrous:
The most elite athletes in the world can play their craft ambidextrously, meaning they can use both hands to do things. When it comes to basketball, players have to use both hands to play the game effectively, but each player has a dominant hand. In the case of Lebron, this dominant hand is the right hand, but this was not always the case.
James has shown in the past that he can choose with both hands despite mainly shooting with his right hand and doing everything else with his left hand. When asked why he started using his right hand in 2017, Lebron said he was trying to be like players Penny Hardaway and Michael Jordan, who he looked up to and were right-handed. So, yes, Lebron is a lefty who switched to shooting with his right hand, thanks to inspiration from players he idolized.
3.Lebron Was a Talented Football Player:
Most basketball fans do not know that Lebron played football in high school. This was at St. Vincent – St. Mary High in Akron, where he accumulated more than 700 yards and even made all-state as a wide receiver as a sophomore. He was even more prolific during his junior year, where he caught 52 passes for more than 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns.
He went on to be recruited by various colleges but chose not to play football in his senior year to concentrate on basketball. That’s why his football career might have been forgotten.
4.James Married His Highschool Girlfriend:
Lebron James and his wife Savannah Brinson met in high school. His wife might have attended a rival high school, but James did not hesitate to ask her out when he spotted the cheerleader. They grabbed dinner at Outback Steakhouse on their first date and have been stuck together since then. Their love has endured the star’s meteoric rise in the NBA, with James indicating he would not have achieved much without the support of his wife.
The couple has three children today, and James is a great father. There have never been rumors connecting James to other female celebrities or any other women. He has been faithful to his lover all these years. This shows that the star is also a great person and an example for others to emulate.
5.He became the Highest Paid in His Team at 31:
It is undoubtedly true that Lebron is one of the most talented players ever to set foot on a basketball court. However, despite an unmatched talent, he did not earn the highest salary in his roster for most of his career.
James became a free agent in 2010, and many teams approached him. Ultimately, he joined the Miami Heat with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to share the scoring burden. He agreed to take less than his market value to create the Miami Heat super team. Nonetheless, he achieved top pay in his second stint with the Cavaliers.
Closure:
King James is one of the most aspiring athletes of our time. From humble beginnings in Akron to rising stardom during his NBA career, basketball fans have seen him grow in the ranks and break record after record. His impact on basketball will be one in the history books, and his story will be one of achieving success through perseverance.
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