Durant vs LeBron James

Lore & Background

Nicknamed 'King James', he is the NBA's all-time leading scorer and has won four NBA championships from 10 NBA Finals appearances, including eight consecutive appearances between 2011 and 2018. He has won three Olympic gold medals as a member of the U.S. national team. Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, James gained national attention at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School. The Cleveland Cavaliers selected James with the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft.

He won Rookie of the Year and led Cleveland to its first NBA Finals appearance in 2007. After winning back-to-back MVPs in 2009 and 2010, he joined the Miami Heat as a free agent in 2010. With the Heat, James won his first two NBA championships in 2012 and 2013. After four seasons in Miami, he returned to Cleveland in 2014, leading the Cavaliers to their first-ever championship in 2016. He signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, winning another title in 2020.

Reader's Guide

LeBron James is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He holds records for the most seasons played with 23, the most games played, the most minutes played, and the most field goals made in league history. He is a 22-time All-Star and 21-time All-NBA selection. Off the court, he has earned wealth from endorsement contracts and is the first player in NBA history to accumulate $1 billion in earnings as an active player.

Did You Know?

• LeBron James was born to 16-year-old Gloria Marie James in Akron, Ohio.
• He played wide receiver for St. Vincent–St. Mary's football team as an underclassman.
• James was the subject of a feature article in Slam magazine in 2001.
• He accepted a Hummer H2 for his 18th birthday, which prompted an OHSAA investigation.
• James has been listed by Forbes as one of the world's ten highest-paid athletes fifteen times.