15 Interesting Facts About LeBron James You Didn’t Know

He missed half of 4th grade

When LeBron James was young his mom, who was just 16 when she had him, would get into trouble with the law doing petty crimes. As a result, LeBron would be too ashamed to go to school because everyone knew what his mom did. In the 4th grade LeBron missed 82 out of the 160 school days. However, the next year in the 5th grade LeBron had perfect attendance.

LeBron also lived with his Pee Wee football coach and his family while his mother had legal issues. He credits his coach Frankie Walker for introducing him to basketball.

He first dunked in the 8th grade

So obviously LeBron James was pretty great at basketball from a super young age. He absolutely dominated in middle school and was already getting noticed by scouts. LeBron James is 6’ 8” so it doesn’t take much for him to dunk the ball. He had his first dunk in a game when he was in the 8th grade. It was a game where the teachers played the students so it must have felt pretty awesome.

He was a Highschool football star

Not only was LeBron James a basketball stud in Highschool, he also was extremely good at football too. By his junior year he was an All-State wide receiver in the state of Ohio, which is a top state to recruit football talent. However, James decided to sit out of football his senior year due to a hand injury. This scared him because the injury could have affected his future basketball career. James most likely would have received a scholarship to play football for a Division I college but obviously he had other plans.

Michael Jordan scrimmaged LeBron James in High School

The summer before LeBron James’ junior year in high school he would scrimmage Michael Jordan privately. No media were allowed in the gym during these sessions. Jordan knew James had the talent to be one of the best like him so he showed him a few pointers. However, it ended when one of James’ friends prank called Jordan’s private number he specifically gave to James. Apparently he didn’t get the joke.

He wanted to join the NBA Draft his Junior Year

After his third basketball season in High school for St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, LeBron James petitioned the NBA to let him join the draft that year. The NBA denied his request and told him he had to at least graduate high school first. Up until 2006, basketball athletes only needed to go high school before joining the draft. So players like Kolbe Bryant, Amar’e Stoudemire and Kevin Garnett went to the NBA straight out of high school. But after 2006, players had to play ball at least one year at a college.

Hummers & Nikes

When LeBron was in high school his mother took out a loan and bought him a Hummer (H2). She thought he needed to ride in style since he was going to be a big basketball star one day. Years later, when LeBron signed his first shoe deal with Nike, which was $80 million, they were called the Nike Air Zoom Generation. Now, they’re commonly known as LeBron 1’s. Their design was inspired by that H2 his mom got him.

He likes the number 6

LeBron use to wear the number 6 earlier in his NBA career. He wore the number in his four year stint with the Miami Heat where he made the NBA finals all four times and won 2 titles. The reason he chose the number 6 is because his first born child was born on October 6. Also, his second child, named Bryce Maximus was born in June, which is the 6 month of the year. He was born in 2007 during LeBron’s first trip to the NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

He’s ambidextrous

LeBron James is ambidextrous, meaning he can use both hands just as well as his dominant hand. He shoots with his right hand but eats and writes with his left.

He almost broke his neck

In 2002, LeBron dunked and tore down a hoop during a practice scrimmage. He nearly broke his neck. Thank God that didn’t happen or the basketball universe would be quite different today.

He almost left the 2008 Olympic team

The 2008 Olympics U.S. Men’s Team represented the USA at the summer olympics in Beijing China. The were nicknamed the “Redeem Team,” based on the 1992 legendary “Dream Team.” The were called that because in 2004 the US Men’s basketball team got a disappointing Bronze medal. But in 2008 they won the gold against Spain in the final game. Time Magazine called LeBron “the voice of the team.” But actually LeBron wasn’t getting along with anyone on the team. Other big names on the team were Kolbe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and Anthony Carmelo among others. It got so bad the LeBron James almost left in the middle of the Olympics. They were all probably a little tired of one another because they played together in the 2004 Olympics and the 2006 World Championships.

He and Jay-Z have their own handshake

LeBron James and Jay-Z are good friends. The reportedly even have a secret handshake. Some people think it proves that they are both members of The Illuminati.

Jay-Z’s freestyle “Blow the Whistle” was in defense of LeBron James when he was called overrated by DeShawn Steven.

He made a ton of money off Beats

LeBron James has been known to have investments outside of the basketball court. When you have all that money it’s good to invest it and let it make money for you. LeBron James owned a small stake in Beats headphones. He didn’t actually invest in the company, all he had to do was to be seen wearing the headphones. In exchange they gave him a piece of the company. When Apple purchased Beats for $3 billion in 2014, LeBron got a $30 million payday. Not bad for wearing a piece of plastic every once in a while.

LeBron James owns 2% of a soccer team

James received a 2% stake in Liverpool FC soccer team of the English Premier League. He received the stake when he was owed $6.5 million when his marketing firm agreed to a joint venture with Fenway Sports Partners. Their owners John Henry and Tom Wener had bought Liverpool in 2010 and offered James a 2% of the team instead of the money. He accepted and Liverpool did very well in 2018 making the club worth a lot more money. LeBron has also invested in the restaurant chain Blaze Pizza.

His career averages

LeBron’s career points per game average is 27.2

LeBron’s career points per season average is 2,000

LeBron’s career rebounds per game average is 7.4

LeBron’s career rebounds per season average is 500

LeBron’s career assists per game average is 7.2

LeBron’s career assists per season average is 500

Him & MJ

LeBron James and Michael Jordan are the only two basketball players to win a regular season MVP, a NBA Finals MVP, and an Olympic Gold medal all in the same year.

LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the only two basketball players to earn at least two MVP awards by 25.

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