Category: Lebron James

The city of Akron is a tough place for families in poverty. There’s crime in the streets, the houses are very small, run-down, and cheap, and it’s a tough place for kids to truly live their childhood. On December 30th, 1984, that narrative changed, as a child was born who was destined to change the narrative of the crime-infested town that was Akron, Ohio. His name was LeBron James. The son of Gloria James, Lebron had to live a challenging life while growing up. He didn’t have a father, his mom was 16 when he was born, and his family was in poverty. He missed school early and often; he had to have foster families take care of him multiple times, and he was already somewhat discriminated against because of his race. Those factors didn’t stop him from constantly working on his basketball skills, they didn’t stop his determination to be great, and they sure as hell didn’t stop his beliefs in his dreams. The childhood, personality, and skills of LeBron James are the reasons why he is an outlier, an entrepreneur, an inspiration to others, and one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

The biggest aspect of LeBron’s life that truly made him an outlier was his childhood. Growing up in Akron, Ohio, he faced poverty and crime throughout his younger years. “James is the only child of Gloria James, who gave birth to him when she was just sixteen years old. Gloria struggled to provide for James during his childhood. When James was about five years old, he and his mother moved seven times in a year. For a couple of years during elementary school, James lived with a foster family” (“LeBron James Biography”). This shows some of the struggles that LeBron had to deal with that tons of other stars and celebrities didn’t have to deal with growing up. These aspects hampered his social life, his school life, and his sports life, but he managed to find a way to push through it every single day and strive for greatness. One of the most important things that Lebron got from this rough experience was his relationship with his mother. “ Gloria’s longtime boyfriend, Eddie Jackson, has acted as a father figure for James, but he was not always around during James’s youth, spending several years in prison for selling drugs and, later, for fraud. Regardless of any troubles they may have had, however, James and his mother have a close and supportive relationship” (“LeBron James Biography”). This relationship between the two has helped each of them grow over the years, as it made them keep believing in each other through their younger years and it has kept them together throughout the success they have had over the years.

LeBron’s challenging childhood only made him work harder than anyone else throughout his younger years, and that made him one of the best players to ever come out of high school, and one of the best professional basketball players of all time. His elite skill level, his unique hype surrounding him, and his swagger that came with his game put a target on his back, once again making him an outlier, the only difference this time was that he was an outlier in the NBA, not just in Akron. After seven years in the league, playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron decided to sign with the Miami Heat, which only made him even more of an outlier to everyone in the world. “Upon leaving the Cavaliers, James drew intense criticism from sports analysts, executives, fans, and current and former players. The Decision itself was also scrutinized and viewed as unnecessary. Many thought that the prolonged wait for James’s choice was unprofessional as not even the teams courting him were aware of his decision until moments before the show. Upon learning that James would not be returning to Cleveland, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert published an open letter to fans in which he aggressively denounced James’s actions. Some angry fans of the team recorded videos of themselves burning his jersey. Former NBA players, including Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, were also critical of James” (“LeBron James”). The Decision was broadcast on national television, and it was the moment when he announced where he was going to sign for the upcoming season. This choice would change the path of his career, and even though it looked like a horrible choice at the time, it was the best thing that could have happened to LeBron. This raised his career to the next level and taught him some valuable lessons on how to deal with being the outlier and receiving so much hate.

These experiences in LeBron’s life of being an outlier and being the one that everyone hates have only ended in good things for the outcome of his career and other life achievements. He stapled himself as one of the greatest people to ever play the game of basketball, and one of the greatest influences to other people off the court. “Throughout his career, James has been ranked by Forbes as one of the world’s most influential athletes, and in 2017, he was listed by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. During his first stint with the Cavaliers, he was adored by local fans, and Sherwin-Williams displayed a giant Nike-produced banner of James on its world headquarters” (“LeBron James”). This shows how the life and career he has made for himself through being an outlier has turned him into one of the most respectable people on the planet. Even though he was one of the most hated people at the time of The Decision, he prevailed through those tough times and worked his way from major outlier to an icon. Along with being such an influence off of the court, his background of being an outlier turned him into one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. “As of June 2019, he has been named to 15 All-NBA Teams, which is tied for the most in league history, and 12 All-NBA first teams, which is an NBA record His four MVP awards are matched only by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, and Bill Russell; James and Russell are the only players to win four MVP awards in a five-year span. James has also won three Finals MVP Awards, which is tied for the second-most all-time, and earned All-Defensive honors every season from 2009 to 2014.” (LeBron James). The accolades that LeBron has attained throughout his career are unheard of, unmatched, and a true sign of all-around greatness. Even though his on the court accolades are one of a kind, LeBron thinks that his greatest achievement came off the court, in the summer of 2018, when he opened the I Promise school in his hometown of Akron. In an interview with Rachel Nichols of ESPN, Nichols asked, “You’re a guy who has won three NBA titles, four MVPs, and yet you will tell anyone who listens that opening this school today is a greater moment than any of those — and I got tape of you in Game 7 in the NBA Finals. Do you mean it?”, in which LeBron replied “I do. I do mean it. I can sit here and be at a loss for words, which I am now.” All of his struggle and success in life culminated up to this point, and he believes that this is his greatest achievement because he wants to make sure no kid has to go through what he went through in the ’80s and ’90s in his childhood. He’s doing this by giving them multiple meals a day, education and a way to freely travel to the school, and hospitality. (Nichols). This image that LeBron has painted for himself throughout his career is a result of the morals he has made for himself from his childhood and other difficult times in his life.

The childhood, personality, and skills of LeBron James are the reasons why he is an outlier, an entrepreneur, an inspiration to others, and one of the greatest basketball players of all time. An outlier can be classified as many different things. Anyone can be an outlier, no matter what their profession is, what their childhood was, what their background is, anything. The same goes for LeBron James. His motto in life is “Strive for Greatness”, and many people know him as “The Kid From Akron”. Both of these sayings come from his experiences of being an outlier for most of his life, and along with those sayings, his career wouldn’t be even close to the same if he didn’t have those experiences throughout his life.

Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar LeBron James continues to dominate the competition in year 17. Already the playoffs all-time leading scorer, the legendary Small Forward added to his glowing resume yet again last night, as he surpassed Derek Fisher to register the most playoff wins in NBA history as the Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of their Western Conference Semi-Finals series.

The four-time MVP finished the contest with 36 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four blocks en route to postseason victory number 162. His record-breaking performance was filled monstrous dunks, dazzling dimes and vicious blocks in yet another dominant playoff display.

As James continues to turn back the hands of time with his rim attacks, spectacular assists and game changing rejections, let’s look at his five best dunks, assists and blocks to date during his illustrious career.

DUNKS

5. LEBRON THROWS IT DOWN ON RASHEED WALLACE

In 2007, LeBron James turned down a three-point attempt to drive the lane and throw it down on one of the best big men in the league in Rasheed Wallace during Game 3 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals.

4. WELCOME TO YOUR KODAK MOMENT

In the 2010 playoffs, LeBron James delivered a Kodak Moment to Chicago Bulls James Johnson as he dunked all over him in front of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ bench.

3. LEBRON ENDS JASON TERRY

In 2013, one of the greatest poster dunks of all time occurred inside TD Garden in Boston, as LeBron James jumped out of the sky for the alley-oop poster jam on Celtics’ Jason Terry.

2. NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE

The famous commentary of Kevin Harlan produced “LeBron James with no regard for human life” in the 2008 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, and James threw down a thunderous dunk on Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett.

1. LEBRON MAKES JUSUF NURKIC A SCREENSAVER

A seemingly uneventful regular season game between the Portland Trailblazers and Los Angeles Lakers was sparked into life as LeBron James made Jusuf Nurkic into a “screensaver” with his incredible throwdown.

ASSISTS

5. LEBRON’S NO-LOOK TO MOSGOV IN THE FINALS

In the 2015 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, LeBron delivered an astonishing no-look bounce pass to Timofey Mozgov for the slam in front of a raucous Cavaliers’ crowd.

4. LEBRON WITH EYES IN THE BACK OF HIS HEAD

LeBron James electrified the Miami Heat crowd in his first season with the franchise, after this behind the head no look dime to Erick Dampier against the New York Knicks.

3. LEBRON’S INCREDIBLE TWISTING FIND

It may have been NBA pre-season, but it’s hard to comprehend how James somehow finds sharpshooter Danny Green with a pass whilst twisting and falling out of bounds on time and on target for the triple.

2. LEBRON’S ABSURD BASELINE DIME

LeBron James delivers one of the all-time great bounce passes, as we wraps a pass from one side of the floor to another on the baseline, finding Mike Dunleavy who wasn’t even there yet in stride for the three-pointer.

1. LEBRON FAKES OUT THE ENTIRE ARENA

Before LeBron James signed for the Lakers, he gave them a taste of what was to come. The whole arena anticipates James to give the ball to one of the greatest three-point shooters ever in Kyle Korver who is wide open. Instead, James fakes out not only the entire Lakers squad, but everyone in the area including the camera man as he dishes a no-look pass to Ante Zicic who all of a sudden finds himself free in the lane for an uncontested dunk.

BLOCKS

5. THE KING TRUMPS THE PRINCE

The late great Cleveland Cavaliers’ commentator Fred McLeod proclaimed “What does a King always do to a Prince” as LeBron James consumed Taurean Prince’s shot sending the Atlanta crowd into shock.

4. LEBRON MEETS TURNER AT THE RIM

LeBron James and Boston Celtics’ forward Evan Turner had blood during their 2015 Eastern Conference series, but James got the last laugh as he denied Turner’s dunk attempt and told him “You tried”.

3. LEBRON GOES SUPERMAN IN GAME 7

In 2018 LeBron James does the unthinkable by playing the entire Game 7 on the road in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. The biggest play of the game sees James sending Terry Rozier’s dunk attempt back, shifting all the momentum and eventually lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals.

2. LEBRON SENDS SPLITTER BACK

En route to capturing his second NBA championship, LeBron James rises up and denies San Antonio Spurs Center Tiago Splitter at the summit as Splitter winds up for the huge dunk attempt.

1. THE BLOCK

Widely regarded as the greatest play of his career, LeBron James channels his signature chase down block coming out of nowhere to block Golden State Warriors Andre Iguodala in transition with an NBA championship on the line. One of the most iconic plays in NBA history, James’ block led to the Cleveland Cavaliers going on to capture their first and only championship.

In a career that has produced countless highlights, it becomes an extremely difficult task to choose just five dunks, assists and blocks from such a legendary career. Although James may be on the back end of his playing days, there is comfort knowing that “The King” still has plenty left in the tank, and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Lebron James once said, “You know, God gave me a gift to do other things besides play the game of basketball ”(The Incredible Drive Of LeBron James.) Lebron James isn’t just a well-rounded basketball player, but he is also a great role-model for all generations to look up to. Lebron James is a better basketball player and role model than Micheal Jordan because his statistics and this contribution around the community are greater than Jordan’s.

The first and maybe most significant facts to research when discussing the best “basketball player” of all time are statistics. If LeBron James is considerably worse statistically than Michael Jordan, then the argument is over and there’s no debate to continue. He cannot pass him. This, however, isn’t the case. In fact, the statistics show that these two are extremely close. Posnanski says, “We should acknowledge from the beginning that there’s no simple applied math answer to the question of MJ vs. LeBron”. He goes on to mention, “the advanced numbers seem like so: Win Shares: Jordan: 214 James: 192.5, price Over Replacement Player: James: 108.6 Jordan: 104.4, Player potency Rating Jordan: 27.9 (first all-time) James: 27.7 (second all-time)” (Posnanski). Also, Jordan has 32,292 career points and that is less compared to LeBron’s 33,056 (NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Points). The two players outdo one another in several statistics. LeBron James is in his fifteenth season that currently equals the overall quantity of seasons than Michael Jordan within the NBA throughout his career (Land of Basketball). This could look like it makes comparison easier. In a very bound sense, it does; however, there’s additionally a great deal of contrast in eras. “Statistics do not lie. Although, the ’90s era had the greatest of all-time in Michael Jordan, the other players (including John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon) do not match up with the 2000s era in terms of accomplishments” (Allison Crist). Michael Jordan’s 2 retirements, not to mention the very fact that Jordan got 3 years of school to develop whereas James came into the NBA raw and straight out of high school as a wide-eyed, 18-year old. Still, these fifteen seasons of statistics, awards, and accomplishments are value watching, Land of Basketball’s web site features a useful breakdown of the comparison of LeBron vs Jordan. LeBron has been to the All-Star Game fourteen out fifteen years, Jordan has gone to the playoffs thirteen times to LeBron’s thirteen. Jordan has won the foremost Valuable Player award five times to LeBron’s four (Land of Basketball). All this gives us a small advantage to Jordan, that is true, however after we stop and contemplate that LeBron is a year older and still playing in the NBA than Jordan was. Jordan may have a bit of an edge, but it’s a really small one, and LeBron looks to be closing the gap. Statistically, he might not be there, however, James no doubt has on the point made in the era he’s been playing in.

Political Activism

A vital regularly disregarded subject matter is how race and political activism play into perceptions and legacies of these players. The effect that certain athletes have is large, and their selections about whether or not to get worried as an activist in the political and social landscape have considerable influences. According to, Black male athlete activism and the link to Michael Jordan: A transformational leadership and social cognitive theory analysis, it discusses how Michael Jordan, as perhaps the most famous black male athlete of all time, without a doubt did not come a social activist. LeBron James, alternatively, has been very outspoken approximately social troubles, most notably racial issues, together with the Trayvon Martin case in Florida. In contrast to Michael Jordan LeBron has voiced the help of sure social reasons and has stood up towards events and problems that he believes are injustices, which might be seen by many as admirable. However, this has additionally come with extensive backlash and has induced him to stand increased scrutiny and grievance from many groups. James demonstrated exactly why we should not expect athletes to speak in terms of severe social troubles.

Impact on community

Lebron has impacted more than just the basketball court. In the last 2 years Lebron has opened the I Promise school. Lebron said “I know these kids basically more than they know themselves,” he said, according to The Los Angeles Times. “I walked the same streets. I rode the same bikes on the streets that they ride on. I went through the same emotions. The good, the bad, the adversity. Everything these kids are going through, the drugs, the violence, the guns, everything they’re going through as kids, I know.” (Huffington Post). This school is for students who are a risk in reading and need additional academic intervention so they don’t fall further behind their classmates. Even though Michael Jordan is possibly the most iconic and most recognizable person or name in sports even People who know nothing about sports understand who Michael Jordan is and understand his logo. The Jordan logo dominated the cultural landscape in the overdue 1980s and done his fair share of donating to charities (Michael Jordan: Charity Work & Causes) However, Lebron has done more for his community than Jordan has.

In conclusion, Lebron is not just better than Jordan at basketball but also does more things for the community and takes a stand for what he believes in by not only his words but his actions. Lebron is on the all-time great list” everything is in front of him. With Lebron’s 2016 comeback victory over Golden State in the Finals, and him bringing redemption back to Cleveland through a world championship. The potential years he has left, and his continued upward, not only is Lebron better than Jordan, but Lebron has a chance to blow him out of the water if he continues to play, not only before the end of his career but potentially in the very near future. Lebron’s blend of skills that make him a complete player, combined with his polarizing on and off the court presence, certainly helps him stake his claim.

The accomplishment reignited perhaps the fiercest discussion in the NBA — who is the ‘GOAT,’ the best NBA player ever. Jordan ruled the 90’s while LeBron commanded the 2000’s with numerous Hall of Famers and astonishing players with such a large number of abilities. LeBron James and Micheal Jordan are with an uncertainty the two best ball players on the planet however obviously there is just a single choice and that is LeBron James.

Lebron Raymone James Sr. was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. His mom, Gloria Marie James, was 16 years old at the time of his birth, while his dad, Anthony McClelland, has a criminal record and was absent in his initial life and now. As a single parent, Gloria, moved from condo to loft, winding up in Akron. She battled to get a steady line of work. In the end, stressed over LeBron’s childhood, she carried him to live with a neighborhood football trainer named Frank Walker. LeBron was nine years of age at that point, and when Walker acquainted b-ball with him. Lebron James (LeBron Raymone James Sr.) is one of the most well known ball players now, and is viewed as the best b-ball player on the planet. Jordan was born on February 17th, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. Growing up in Wilmington, North Carolina. At an early age Jordan gained a competitive edge to win. He wanted to win every game he played.

Jordan grew up with a stable family life. His mother, Delores, was a bank teller who has since written several books. His father, James, was a maintenance worker turned manager at General Electric. When he was in the fifth grade, LeBron was playing in a sorted out ball group. To be specific, he played for the Northwest Ohio Shooting Stars for the Amatuer Athletic Union. He made solid bonds with colleagues Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, and Willie McGee. They had a great deal of progress at the neighborhood and national level while being in the group, and they concluded they would all go to a similar secondary school to stay as a group. “It was obvious that LeBron was a natural, as even as a freshman, he dominated the high school circuit. In his first year, he averaged 21 points and 6 rebounds per game. The St. Vincent–St. Mary High School’s team, The Fighting Irish, went undefeated in the season, 27–0. This made a new record for the first high school boys basketball team in Ohio to go undefeated in a season. After this first year, Lebron was a sensation, and went into his sophomore a star. He did not disappoint the fans, with 25.2 points and 7.2 rebounds with 5.8 assists and 3.8 steals per game.

For some games, bigger venues had to be booked to accommodate the amount of people who wanted to watch the games of the team. NBA scouts were already taking a keen notice of LeBron. That year, the team went 26–1, and LeBron was named “Ohio Mr. Basketball” and was chosen for the USA Today All-USA First Team. He was the first high school sophomore to do so (“NBA.com: Prospect Profile: LeBron James”). Prior to entering his third year of his school, LeBron was getting a great deal of press. He was highlighted in the American ball magazine Slam on the spread, and was classified, ‘the best secondary school b-ball player in America at the present time’ (‘Ohio Player’). LeBron additionally turned into the main secondary school ball underclassmen to show up on the front of Sports Illustrated. His lesser year was terrific also, with a normal of 29 points per game , 8.3 rebounds per game, 5.7 assist per game, and 3.3 steals per game. Once more, he was delegated ‘Ohio Mr. B-ball’ and chose for the USA Today All-USA First Team. What’s more, he became the first underclassmen to ever be named male ball Gatorade National Player of the Year. In any case, his group didn’t work out quite as well as in the past two years, with a record of 23–4 (“Sharp, Anne Wallace”). This was a troublesome time for him, as he was getting a ton of media consideration and he didn’t have a clue how to manage it appropriately. He began to utilize drugs as an enemy of stress apparatus. To add to the uneasiness, he needed to enter the NBA draft early, however the NBA would not influence the principles for him, and he needed to contend in his senior year so as to enter the NBA. Also a side note: LeBron likewise played football through his first year recruit to junior year, and furthermore created a decent record (‘LeBron’s Book Shows Struggle With Fame’).

His achievements incorporate three NBA titles, four NBA MVP Awards, three NBA Finals MVP Awards, and two Olympic gold decorations. Lebron’s groups showed up in eight back to back NBA Finals (2011-2018 seasons).Lebron leads with the record for all-time NBA playoffs points scored, is third in all-time NBA points scored, and eighth in all-time NBA assists and 3rd in All time scoring. James was chosen to the All-NBA First Team a record multiple times, made the All-Defensive First Team multiple times, played in sixteen NBA All-Star Games as All-Star MVP multiple times. Lebrn’s Statical Advantage While Jordan may be viewed as a superior scorer with a progressively practiced vocation as far as NBA Championships, LeBron is the best all-around player, and their individual insights just strengthen this thought. Michael has the favorable position in NBA Championships, group MVPs, free throws per game and free-throw percentage. LeBron then again beats Michael taking all things together NBA First-Team determinations and per-game measurements for rebounds, assists, blocks and in overall field goal rate. Also LeBron James is the first player in NBA history with 30,000 points, 8,000 rebounds and 8,000 steals. LeBron’s proficiency and predominance can’t be hidden where no one will think to look. His ‘domineering jerk ball’ style on offense ends up being relentless, and he has kept on being a power to be dealt with on barrier; simply ask Andre Iguodala and Terry Rozier, who have been forced to bear his trademark chase down blocks. LeBron’s capacity to play as well as command each of the five positions is suggestive of the incomparable Magic Johnson. The case can be made that despite the fact that Jordan averaged more points than LeBron. LeBron was a progressively productive scorer in that he averaged just 2.9 less points on 3.3 fewer shot attempts. That is 6 to 9 points that LeBron gives up by not taking those shots. Thier teams performance following their departure. At the point when Michael Jordan chose to hang up his shoes (just because) in return for proficient baseball in 1994, no one would have anticipated the Bulls would have comparable achievement. MJ was viewed as the competitor who set another standard of greatness and flawlessness in his art. On paper, the void that his nonappearance had made would be an extreme obstacle to survive. The fact of the matter was an incredible opposite, as the Jordan-less Bulls of 1993-94 proceeded to deliver a 55-27 season, only two wins shy of the last season, when MJ was a part of the group.

LeBron James settled on the choice to withdraw Cleveland in 2009, when he went into free agency. While James made a Jordan-like void in the group he was leaving, the consequence of his nonappearance was undeniably progressively adverse to the Cavaliers. For the 2009-10 season, they created a horrifying 19-63 record following a NBA-best 61-21 record season. These numbers unmistakably demonstrate whose nearness was progressively important to their separate group. King James on the court. The contrast between Michael Jordan and LeBron James on the court is little now. Michael Jordan is the most predominant power of any group activity, with his relentless scoring, reliably solid resistance, and his unshakeable will to win. Be that as it may, numerous b-ball specialists tout LeBron as the more ‘complete’ player, with his colossal passing, ball-taking care of, diagnostic b-ball IQ and solid bouncing back, which empowers him to assume control over a game in various manners. LeBron has been the best player in the NBA for at least eight (perhaps 10) of the 15 years he’s been in the league.

Conclusion

Furthermore, get this improving: he’s despite everything showing signs of improvement. He achieved profession highs in rebounds and assists, and he’s passed Jordan for a few collective records. Jordan has higher peaks, however LeBron has the contention of life span and consistency. Jordan’s trump card is six NBA championships in six NBA Finals with six NBA Finals MVPs. Jordan never went to a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. Also is a better free throw shooting and has the clucth making ability’s. And better scorer and better defender. Sure James is just 3-5 in finals, however when you take a gander at simply crude numbers, you will find that James’ eight adversaries in the NBA Finals entered the end of the playoffs games with a joined .764 winning rate to Jordan’s .746. Take a gander at simply this season: The Golden State Warriors brought three All-NBA players in Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green, in addition to a fourth top pick and All-NBA censure in Klay Thompson. Jordan never confronted a group with that much capability ever! The Warriors’ expansion of Kevin Durant would have been similar to the 1992 Trail Blazers, in the wake of losing to the Bulls, at that point going out and getting Hakeem Olajuwon. The Warriors dominated a bigger number of matches than any group in NBA history a year ago James despite everything beat them, so they needed to go out and include the second-best player in the league to beat the Cavs. Lebron faces difficult competition compared to MJ era and with the defensive even tougher than ever in the NBA. Lebron is still on the league chasing down more achievements.

“I feel like LeBron James is an amazing basketball player, but he’s also a community person.” This short description by Chance the Rapper sums up the viewpoint Lebron receives by a large portion of the world. There are few people throughout history who have been capable of fighting through an upbringing like Lebron James, and evolved as not only an athlete, but a human being in totality to become recognized as one of the most selfless figures in the world. Throughout time, Lebron’s intellect has evolved, not only on the court, but with his desire to be remembered as not only a prominent figure in the sport of basketball, but a man who made an impact on the world. Lebron has fought through heavy criticism for going down paths most people choose not to take, rather using it as motivation to fuel his desire to be recognized as not only one of the greatest basketball players of all time, but one of the most prominent social figures as well. Lebron was capable of conquering a difficult upbringing and from this, has become one of the most selfless figures in society, through his various donations and acts of good, not only to the sport of basketball, but the entire world.

Lebron was capable of fighting through a rough upbringing, to become the man he is today. Lebron James was born in “Akron, Ohio, on December 30, 1984” (Ducksters). Throughout his early childhood in Akron, he was forced into an impoverished state of life. He was forced to spend the first portion of his childhood without a true father figure. However, “his basketball coach at the time, Frankie Walker took Lebron under his wing, allowing him to stay with his family” (Ducksters). This was extremely beneficial for Lebron, as this allowed him to transfer his focus from the negative aspects of his life, to his schoolwork and basketball.

Lebron had a dominant high school career, before being forced to make the tough decision of where he wanted to go, either the NBA or college. Throughout Lebrons teenage years basketball slowly became the aspect of his life which he prized the most. He played “Amateaur Athletic Union basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars” (The Famous People), and made the tough choice of attending “St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, a White private school, instead of their local public school” (The Famous People). Lebron picked up a large fanbase as he continued his high school career, leading a below average team to wins over some of the nations best. Eventually, Lebron would finish his high school career with “three state titles, as well as receiving the title of “Mr. Basketball” in Ohio for three consecutive years” (Ducksters). After a dominant high school career, Lebron James made a heavily criticized decision of skipping college to go straight to the NBA, and ended up being the first pick in the 2003 NBA draft.

However, 16 years later, Lebron James addressed the reason why he chose to skip college. He said, “That 23 jersey would have been sold all over the place without my name on the back. My body would have been on the 2004 NCAA game. The [arena] would have been sold out every single night. Me and my mom didn’t have anything and we wouldn’t be able to benefit at all from it. The university would be able to capitalize on everything, during the time I would be there for that one year or two years. I understand what those kids are going through and I feel for those kids who’ve been going through it for so long.” (Will S, Basketball Network). Lebron addressed a problem that NCAA players deserved to be paid for their services. As a five star athlete, and high school superstar, Lebron could have attended any college he desired, however he chose to pursue his career as a professional basketball player without the experience at the college level strictly due to the financial struggles his family was dealing with. Lebron’s statements on this topic have already made an impact. As “The Fair Pay to Play Act,” (Will S, Basketball Network) signed by the State of California will allow college players to begin having their own personal benefits from their time playing at the collegiate level. These players will now be capable of signing endorsement deals, as well as hiring agents. In short, this act will allow players the freedom to endorse their own name, and make profit from it. From a short statement by Lebron James, one of the most commonly criticized aspects of NCAA sports has made an extreme advancement to being solved.

Lebron’s early career in the NBA, shaped him into the unselfish person he is recognized as. After seven years in the NBA, Lebron had begun to shape into a dominant force on the court, however a selfless person who was aware of those around him and some of the rough aspects of their lives. In 2010, when his first contract expired and he became a free agent, Lebron decided to take part in a highly controversial TV event on ESPN special called “The Decision”, solely revolving around which team he would play for in the NBA, once his contract with Cleveland expired. Lebron was reluctant to do it and ended up donating the profits to charity, specifically the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America revolves around the idea of ensuring children are capable of pursuing whatever career they desire, while at the same time growing up with a safe, productive, and positive lifestyle. Various clubs include, “Career launch, which prepares teens for the world of careers and work” (BGCA). Some other clubs include “diplomas2Degrees” (BGCA), a program focused on preparing high schoolers for college, ensuring they graduate, and prepared to pursue a career. There is a large multitude of clubs throughout the BGCA, however they all share a key goal of the welfare of the youth of America. Lebron recognized these clubs, and with his wife, renovated a large amount of classrooms. He donated “1000 new computers to 59 different Boys and Girls Clubs” (Garcia, 2017), and finally, not including the 1000 computers, donated all the profits from his ESPN special, “The Decision”, to these clubs. The profits from the special summited three million dollars, and Lebrons act of selflessness was influential in improving the productivity of these clubs.

In 2004, Lebron founded the Lebron James Family Foundation. The mission of this program is similar to that of the BGCA, Lebron desired to positively affect both children and young adults lives through a fundamental education, and preparation to pursue a career. “We believe that an education and living an active, healthy lifestyle is pivotal to the development of children and young adults” (James, 2006). The LJFF specifically focuses on the upbringing of children in Lebron’s hometown, Akron. As Lebron was raised in Akron, he was highly aware of the poor living conditions a large portion of residents in Akron have. “This school is so important to me because our vision is to create a place for the kids in Akron who need it most, those that could fall through the cracks if we don’t do something” (James). The LJFF constantly is striving to find “research-based interventions” (Evans, 2017), that will keep students in school, as well as staying on track with what they want in their future.

Branching from the “Lebron James Family Foundation”, Lebron has donated to various clubs throughout his NBA career. After-School All-Stars is a foundation started with the desire to support the children in Lebron’s hometown, Akron. The program provides mentorship, aiding children with their studies, and supplying children with after school activities as well. The overall goal is to keep kids in school and encourage them to graduate, and attend college. Lebron donated $2.5 million dollars to the Muhammad Ali: A Force for Change boxing exhibit. Lebrons described his reason for donating such a large amount of money was that he viewed Ali as an inspiration to him, not only in athletics, and his drive to be the greatest, but also his impact in society and his constant fight for social justice. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America is where the $3 million dollars from “The Decision” special went. These clubs focus on giving all children an equal chance to become successful in their lives by providing them with school mentoring and activities. The Children’s Defense Fund, which began in 1973, with the purpose of being a voice for children’s rights and ensuring that all children are treated equally. This Foundation focuses on the “5 pillars of life” hunger, health, education, water, and play. This organization is based on donations which provide help to children by focusing on giving them a sense of pride. It provides all the daily necessities including breakfasts in schools, water, medical help, educational help, and activities. By looking at all these charities, and the foundation they all share, the mindset that Lebron has towards the young folk of the world becomes clear, he wants nothing but the best for those who are forced to live without ideal conditions.

Throughout Lebrons time in the NBA, he has evolved into one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and from this left an everlasting impact on the NBA. Once Lebron James retires, he will be remembered as one of the greatest, if not the greatest basketball player of all time. Throughout his lengthy career, he has demonstrated complete dominance on the court, and still does it today at the age of 35. Not only has Lebron left an impact in the NBA, but he has left an even bigger mark on the entire world through his work in various communities. However, the community who Lebron has specifically focused on, and the community that has felt his generosity more than any other, is his hometown town of Akron. Lebron has donated to various charities that support his hometown, however no act of kindness compares to his most recent gift to this community, the I Promise School. Lebron desired to create a school for the children in Akron who need an “innovative and supportive environment” (Evans, 2017). Lebron hopes, “If we get to them early enough, we can hopefully keep them on the right track to a bigger and brighter future for themselves and their families” (James). This school is specifically meant for those who are put in a situation in which they would never be capable of succeeding. This school provides them with a chance to live a prosperous lifestyle.

Lebron was capable of conquering a difficult upbringing and from this, has become one of the most selfless figures in society, through his various donations and acts of good, not only to the sport of basketball, but the entire world. Lebron was capable of fighting through a rough upbringing, to become the man he is today. Lebron had a dominant high school career, before being forced to make the tough decision of where he wanted to go, either the NBA or college. Lebron’s early career in the NBA, shaped him into the unselfish person he is recognized as. His first large act of selflessness was donating all the money from his “The Decision” to the BGCA. Lebron then set up the “Lebron James Family Foundation”, a foundation which donated to various other charities. The LJFF has donated to various charities throughout its existence, some of which include After-School All-Stars, BGCA, and ONEXONE, with a main focus of the welfare of children. Throughout Lebron’s time in the NBA, he has evolved into one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and from this left an everlasting impact on the NBA. Not only has Lebron left an impact in the NBA, but he has left an even bigger mark on the entire world through his work in various communities.

Citations

1. “All Programs.” Boys & Girls Clubs of America – Providing Millions of Kids and Teens a Safe Place to Develop Essential Skills, Make Lasting Connections and Have Fun., www.bgca.org/programs/all-programs.
2. “Biographies.” Ducksters Educational Site, www.ducksters.com/biography/.“Chance The Rapper Quotes.” BrainyQuote, Xplore, www.brainyquote.com/quotes/chance_the_rapper_858409?src=t_lebron_james.
3. Hemingway, Jerry. “This Selfless Act Proved LeBron James Really Is a Good Teammate.” Sportscasting, 25 July 2019, www.sportscasting.com/this-selfless-act-proved-lebron-james-really-is-a-good-teammate/.
4. Kelleysthrngrl. “LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools Establish the I PROMISE School.”
5. LeBron James Explains Why He Skipped College and Went Directly to the NBA: ‘Me and My Mom Wouldn’t Be Able to Benefit at All from It.’” Basketball Network, 1 Oct. 2019, www.basketballnetwork.net/lebron-james-explains-why-he-skipped-college-and-went-directly-to-the-nba-me-and-my-mom-wouldnt-be-able-to-benefit-at-all-from-it/.“
6. Lebron James: Five Humongous Charitable Donations │ Black EOE Journal.” Black EOE Journal, 21 Jan. 2019, www.blackeoejournal.com/2019/01/lebron-james-five-humongous-charitable-donations/.
7. Rovell, Darren. “LeBron: ‘The Decision’ Will Generate $2.5 Million For Boys & Girls Club.” CNBC, CNBC, 8 July 2010, www.cnbc.com/id/38154289.“Who Is LeBron James? Everything You Need to Know.”
8. Facts, Childhood, Family Life, Achievements, www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/lebron-james-3966.php.

Introduction to the Social Media Era and Athlete Branding

This era we live in today embodies the most heightened state of social media relevance yet. For a person to be significant in this era they must have an influential social media presence. In any industry be it music, technology, show business or sports, an active up to date grasp of social media networks is necessary. A perfect example of such a person who has seemingly mastered the essence of building a brand and fostering a favorable image through social media is LeBron James. In the sports industry, up until the advent of social media networks like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, the athletes never truly had much of a say on how they were portrayed by the media towards the fans. They would often be caught after games in rushed postgame interviews during which their emotions still reeling cause their words to leave much room for misinterpretation. Or they would be asked very leading questions that trap them into saying things they do not really mean. Many athletes have taken to giving generic answers to the media and press because of this very instance. LeBron James is also a great case study for this as well.

The Evolution of NBA Legends: From Chamberlain to James

After many years since the NBA was created, we have seen numerous dominant players come and go. From the likes of Wilt Chamberlain who is still the only player to ever score one hundred points in a game, to Michael Jordan and now LeBron James. With millions of debates on who is the greatest of all time amongst these greats, it is easy to miss the events that lead up to these conversations happening in the first place. Undoubtedly, Michael Jordan and Lebron James are both extraordinary basketball players and have both succeeded in building legacies that will live on for a very long time, it only makes sense to ask how they were able to create a lasting mark both on and off the court. The fact remains that in the Michael Jordan era, the media had close to total control of the athlete’s image.

Michael Jordan: The Icon of Basketball and Branding

Michael Jordan’s success in his era was ineffable. His absolute dominant athleticism and mastery of the art of putting the ball in the hoop, winning championships and all the while maintaining a favorable public image is what has ensured his status as a household name till this very day. His rise started in 1982 with this game winning shot while playing for UNC Chapel Hill, ever since, he was no longer Mike but Michael Jordan. Everyone wanted to be “Like Mike”. This went on for as long as he remained in the league. The next prodigy would not come until Kobe Bryant who ended up falling out of favor after his rape scandal. Such an accusation no matter the verity of it can do wonders in the act of tarnishing a man’s image. Kobe Bryant would never be looked at the same again after that. Luckily enough, a young phenom from Akron, Ohio was on the come up. His name was LeBron James and he had rallied such an impressive college career that he did not need to attend college like Michael Jordan did.

According to a scholarly essay titled LeBron James and “The Decision”An Empirical Examination of Image Repair in Sports “In terms of fan involvement, the sports industry rests largely on the dichotomy of heroes and villains (Mueller & Sutherland, 2010)… fan moods may change based on their liking of particular sports teams. In essence, “heroes are embraced, encouraged, and worshipped, while villains are cajoled, ridiculed, and scorned” (Mueller & Sutherland, 2010, p. 21).” This quote shows how some athletes are able to rise to a hero status in the eyes of the fans while others are seen in a more villainous light. In the case of Michael Jordan, one can easily say the media did all the heavy lifting to promote him to such an honorary status. People believed Jordan to be such a hero that when he announced his retirement from the NBA, it “was not just a sports story but an international news event. His farewell press conference was carried live on CNN, his face graced the front page of The New York Times, and when a White House event overlapped with Jordan’s announcement, even Bill Clinton noted that ‘most of the cameras are somewhere else.’” (Crowley) For media on an athlete to converge with important political White House events is hysterical but this was not just any athlete.

Researchers have deduced that the public hysteria surrounding Michael Jordan “had a lot to do with Jordan’s unrivaled mastery of the game. But the Jordan phenomenon is much bigger than his scoring titles and six championship rings. Jordan has transcended his on-court achievements to become something more: a ubiquitous corporate pitchman who hawks for giant companies like Coke, McDonald’s and Nike, an entertainer whose role in the movie ‘Space Jam’ helped it gross $450 million-in sum, he is the world’s biggest celebrity.” (Crowley) This quote is important because it shows how many sponsorship deals Michael Jordan had under his belt from big American companies. Without those, he may have never reached such outstanding levels of fame and fortune. However, strip away all the sponsor deals, all the dazzling press releasing and riveting commercials about Jordan, underneath all of that, the proclaimes greatest basketball palyer of all time, actually lacked “an especially interesting personality. He tends to be bland, never spontaneous, sometimes petulant, and often arrogant. He is ruthlessly competitive, although not in the same comically endearing way as Ali. And Jordan has so far been utterly disinterested in discovering the potential that a man of his fame, wealth and stature possesses to make the world even a slightly better place.” (Crowley) This is where we see the gaps in the comparison and heated debates between the two legends, Jordan and James.

LeBron James: A New Era of Athletic Excellence and Social Influence

Lebron is not just a basketball player. He’s an extraordinary athlete who has become a global brand , thanks in part, to unprecedented sponsorship deals. Since the beginning of his NBA career in 2003, Nike noticed his incredible talent and potential on the court and decided to sign him immediately, overcoming Reebok and Adidas. In fact, his first contract with the major American sport brand was worth 90 M $ for 7 yrs. In 2010, his turbulent transfer to Miami caused diverse opinions. He was harshly criticised by some of the most iconic players in NBA – like Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley. However, his image did not suffer much, mostly as a result of his 2 NBA titles with Miami.

When he went back to Cleveland in 2014, he led the team to their first ever NBA title in 2016 and established himself as one the best players ever. In recent years, LeBron’s brand grew noticeably, adding new sponsors and collaborations to his portfolio: for example, Nike itself did not give up on him and renewed the agreement, so he could become the cover athlete of the brand and create his first line of branded sneakers (just like Michael Jordan’s). But the American sports company took a step further, closing a historic agreement with him: LeBron James was the first ever athlete to score a lifetime agreement in the history of Nike.

Besides, Nike isn’t the only brand who sponsors the Chosen One: from Intel to Verizon, from Beats by Dr Dre to KIA Motors, or Coca-Cola and McDonald’s make us think that LeBron has also developed a great marketing capability to rely on top brands, making him a true businessman.

At a staggering 6-foot-8, 260 pounds, striking athleticism, a strong work ethic that has manifested itself into a steady development of his game over the years – LeBron James, the best player in the world also happens to be the best quote in the NBA. After the disaster of the “Decision 1” he has transformed himself into a media favorite with a “smart, subtle and always available approach”. The LeBron James brand has been carefully cultivated over the years. Like most American pro-athletes, LeBron James commands a powerful followership on social media. On Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, he reaches millions of fans daily. With are studied engagement of the media and sports analysts, he has become the narrative and a permanent fixture in discussions about the greatest sportsmen of all time. In the new economy, LeBron James’ 42.4 million followers are more than the top 10 most followed NFL players combined. This list includes names like Tom Brady, Odell Beckham Jr., and Antonio Brown! In the internet age, LeBron James is literally King. When he sends out his opinion or markets his brand on the internet, tens of millions of people are tuned in.

The Impact of Social Media on Athlete’s Public Image

Recent speculations have stated that Lebron James has fallen from glory. A quick Google search of Lebron James would reveal that The King has suffered Humiliation at the Hands of a virtual nobody named Mario Hezonja. Ever since LeBron joined the young Lakers team, the media has been circulating all sorts of information anticipating how the season will play out for them. This year as many media outlets have been quick to point out, will be the first one in over six years that neither Lebron james or Kobe Bryant has been in the playoffs. Does this signify the fall of The King? “LeBron James is Slowing Down, The Lakers are suffering because of it.” The five time NBA champion who was a rookie in the nab at 18 years old has managed to rise to and fall from grace in the eyes of the audience. This most recent plummet however is not the first time LBJ has experienced such backlash from media and viewers across the globe, back in (insert year) Lebron after goin 1st round draft pick and having played for six years at Cleveland left the Cavaliers after issuing this 1 hour long press released titled The Decision, pretty much outlining his decision to leave the title-less Cavaliers for superstar-filled Miami Heat.

Challenges and Criticisms: The Journey of LeBron James

The advent of the iPhone and its portable internet access properties has allowed for not just weekly news, or daily broadcasts but rather news and current even being updated on the hour,, on the minute, by the second. The era of social media has made it possible for everyone to build a brand and one of the best to ever take advantage of this is Lebron James. In every facet of his life, the superstar elite athlete has shaped, carved and molded his narrative from the sound up. Hashtagging every instagram post #MoreThanAnAthlete and #ThatKidFromAkron, he has not only managed to grow his franchise, also build a following, while retaining his own personal voice and opinions. The days of grown ups not knowing how to operate these “new age kid gadgets” are long gone. Lebron who is often listed as one of the older veterans in the game has much more notoriety and social presence than any young players. None of this is accidental. Ever since LeBron acquired his Nike sponsorship, he has achieved a seat at the table as not just a spokesperson for Nike, one of the most powerful brand company in sports and athletics, but a partner as well.

Conclusion: The Changing Landscape of Fame in the Digital Age

Times have changed drastically since the Jordan era in 1992 till now. Back then “the American media-and not just sportswriters-have unquestioningly accepted the Jordan mythology. Dozens of news commentators have proclaimed Jordan the greatest basketball player of all time, hands down, as if Wilt Chamberlain somehow doesn’t count because he played before the advent of ESPN.” (Crowley)

References

1. Brown, K., Dickhaus, J., & Long, M. (2012). LeBron James and “The Decision”: An Empirical Examination of Image Repair in Sports. Journal of Sports Media, 7(1), 149-175.
2. Coombs, D., & Cassilo, D. (2017). Athletes and/or Activists: LeBron James and Black Lives Matter. Journal of Sport & Social Issues, 41(5), 425-444.
3. Mocarski, R., & Billings, A. (2014). Manufacturing a Messiah: How Nike and LeBron James Co-Constructed the Legend of King James. Communication & Sport, 2(1), 3-23.
4. Crowley, Michael. (1999). Muhammad Ali Was a Rebel. Michael Jordan Is a Brand Name.(professional athletes). Nieman Reports, 53(3), 41-43.