Basketball is one of the most popular sports among the youth in the US. That’s why it’s no surprise that people pay attention to players who stand out. LeBron James (40) is one of these iconic players who catches people’s attention, causing his name to go down in history. However, what did this all-star basketball player do to garner this fame?
Basketball’s Popularity in the US Society
First, it’s important to understand the sport’s popularity in the USA. The National Basketball Association (NBA) has boosted its fame among the youth. Now, people love to watch and bet on this sport.
In recent years, more people have started to watch basketball, especially the younger generation. In 2020, a study showed that about 27% of the respondents were casual fans, while 18% were avid fans. However, about 56% said they’re not fans at all.
In contrast, in 2022, a study showed that basketball is the second most popular sport among GenZ, with about 47% being a fan. The only sport ranked higher is football, with about 53% of GenZ being fans.
Part of this interest is due to the effort and marketing that’s been invested in the NBA. In 2020, the NBA teams’ franchise value was around $2.123 million. However, it steadily increased between 2020 and 2022 and increased exponentially in 2023 and 2024. At the end of 2024, the overall franchise value was $4.416 million.
In recent years and after new regulations, betting on basketball and players has also become so popular that you can find available basketball-exclusive bonuses and the like. You can check out this guide by SportsbookReview if you want to know more about betting sites and apps that offer basketball-specific promotions and bet boosters.
Who’s LeBron James Really?
Thanks to basketball’s rising fame, people are also paying more attention to star players. LeBron James is someone who immediately captures your attention when you become interested in what happens on the basketball court.
His Start to Life and Basketball
James was born on December 30th, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. He’s played basketball since a young age and even helped his high school team to win state titles three times during his time there. When he became a sophomore, he also had the honor of being selected for the USA Today All-USA First Team, making history as the first person of his age to be chosen for it.
In the following year, he also received the titles Gatorade Player of the Year and High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year. In his senior year, he made history even further by ending his high school career averaging 31.6 points per game, with 2,657 points altogether. He also had 523 assists and 892 rebounds.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that James was selected for the NBA Draft straight out of high school in 2003. In his first season, he won the 2003-04 NBA Rookie of the Year Award as he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was the youngest player to receive this title.
Further, he was only the third rookie ever to accomplish a 20-points-per-game average. As he played and became even better, he increased his average to 27.2 points per game. Further, he broke the record of scoring more than 50 points in a single game as the youngest player ever in 2005.
He built up the Cavaliers, who used to struggle, to become a top-tier team. In 2006, they emerged victorious against the Washington Wizards in the Playoff’s first round. They made it all the way to the semi-finals, and while they didn’t win, James was starting to garner attention.
Making His Legend
It was really in the 2008-09 season that fans and experts began to pay more attention to James. Many wondered where he would go from there, and it was in the 2010-11 season that he joined the Miami Heat. While many people were upset with his decision to move on from the Cavaliers, he had an extremely successful time at the Heat.
In the 2008-09 season, LeBron won his first title as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at 24 years old. As the Cavaliers headed into the playoffs, they won their match 66-16, with LeBron scoring an average of 28.4 points per game. No one was truly surprised at LeBron winning the title, as he had shown himself to be an excellent player.
However, instead of showcasing each victory he earned, it’s better to look at LeBron’s overall statistics in his basketball career. More than his moments of excellence, it’s his overall statistics that show his skill.
- Boasts an all-time scoring record of over 40,000 points
This milestone is one no other player managed to replicate. You’ll need to avoid serious injuries and maintain a 25-points-per-game average for over two decades to achieve it. Only seven players managed to get over 30,000 all-time points, showing how difficult it is to do.
- Most consecutive games where he scores in double digits
Before James came along, Michael Jordan held the record for consecutive games with double-digit scoring, with 866 games. However, James blasted it out of the water by scoring at least 10 points in every game since early 2007, having a streak of over 1,800 consecutive games.
- Holds 183 Playoff wins
LeBron has won 183 playoff games, which is an impressive feat. The previous record holder, Derek Fisher, has won 161 playoffs, but he’s no longer active. The active player closest to LeBron’s record is Stephen Curry, but he’s only at 99 playoff wins.
- He scored 40 points against every NBA team
James is the only player to have scored 40 points against each of the 30 NBA teams. While Kobe Bryant might have challenged this, having done the same against 29 of the NBA teams, he never left his original team and so couldn’t score against them.
- He holds 21 All-Star selections
LeBron played for 22 NBA seasons and received 21 all-star selections. All-star selections are awarded to the best player of the year, and these titles show LeBron’s amazing longevity and skill at the game. Further, LeBron’s still playing, so he might rack up even more titles despite some people stating he should retire.
LeBron’s Five Moments of Legend
While LeBron had many defining moments in his basketball career that truly set him apart as one of the greatest players, here are five moments that truly stood out.
His Incredible Performance in Toronto
In 2016, James and his Cleveland Cavaliers team faced the Toronto Raptors. At the time, the Raptors were the best team in the Eastern Conference, so many didn’t expect the Cavaliers to come out on top.
However, James scored 43 points during the match, with 14 assists and eight rebounds. They ended the game 2-0 with an 18-point lead. Further, James had a 34-point average across this tournament, showing his skill once again.
His Role in the US Olympic Redeem Team
In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the US created a specialized team of the best NBA players to redeem their reputation after placing third in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Of course, James was on that team, and the final was against Spain.
James averaged 15.5 points during the 2008 Olympics, with 3.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds. After a thrilling match that had people sitting on the edge of their seats, the US won 118-107 against Spain, leading to James winning his first Olympic gold medal.
LeBron’s Moment: The Block
Many fans remember James’ move, The Block, as the epic moment. The Cleveland Cavaliers played against the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals. It was a hard game, with both teams matching each other.
It resulted in the score being tied at 89 points each, and only 1:50 minutes remaining on the clock. Andre Iguodala of the Warriors attempted to score, but James blocked him in a move fans later called The Block, slapping the ball out of the air as Iguodala tried to score. He turned the momentum, and the Cavaliers won the game 93-89.
Landing His Third Olympic Gold Medal
It might seem like LeBron should retire from the NBA at 40, turning 41, but this icon is still going strong. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, he played for the USA, which won its fifth consecutive gold medal against France.
While his average during the Olympics was lower at 14.2 points, considering the level of players he played against, his performance was impressive. He also won the MVP title in this tournament.
His Fourth MVP Title
If you know basketball, you know that being named MVP is one of the greatest honors players can receive. In all of the NBA’s history, only 15 players have managed to win more than one MVP title in their career.
Of these 15, LeBron joined an elite group of four other players who have won more than four MVPs. While he isn’t the player with the most MVPs to his name (that honor belongs to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who has six MVPs), he is the player with the most points and playing time among them.
LeBron’s Legacy of the Ages
LeBron James is still playing, and he’s currently at the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite rumors of trade popping up, it doesn’t seem like he’ll be transferring. LeBron is currently the oldest active NBA player and is going strong despite being at an age where most other NBA players have retired already. With his impressive career, you can truly see why he’s even now owning the NBA’s All-Star stage.
