LeBron James' Real Name: LeBron Raymone James Sr.

LeBron James → LeBron Raymone James Sr.

Quick answer: LeBron James' full name is LeBron Raymone James Sr. He was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. A four-time NBA champion and four-time Finals MVP, he became the NBA's all-time leading scorer in February 2023. In July 2026 he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, his fourth NBA team (NBA.com; Basketball-Reference).

Real name and early life

James plays under his birth name; Raymone is his middle name. He added "Sr." after his eldest son, LeBron "Bronny" James Jr., was born in 2004. He was raised in Akron by his mother, Gloria James. His nicknames include "King James" and "the Chosen One," the latter from a 2002 Sports Illustrated cover when he was a high-school junior.

At St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in Akron he won three state championships.

Career highlights

The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted James first overall in 2003 straight out of high school, and he won Rookie of the Year. In 2010 he joined the Miami Heat, winning titles in 2012 and 2013. He returned to Cleveland in 2014 and led the Cavaliers to the 2016 championship, the franchise's first, after overcoming a 3–1 Finals deficit against Golden State. With the Los Angeles Lakers he won a fourth title in 2020. After eight seasons in Los Angeles he announced on July 24, 2026, that he would join the Philadelphia 76ers for his record 24th season; NBA.com reported he was set to sign a two-year deal and that his No. 23 76ers jersey was already on sale (NBA.com).

On February 7, 2023, he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's career scoring leader. He also won Olympic gold with Team USA in 2008, 2012 and 2024. In 2024–25 he and Bronny became the first father and son to play together in an NBA game.

Off the court he co-founded the SpringHill Company and opened the I Promise School in Akron through his family foundation.

More to know

James married his high-school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson, in 2013. They have three children: LeBron Jr. (Bronny), Bryce and Zhuri. Bronny played a season at the University of Southern California and was drafted by the Lakers 55th overall in 2024, pairing father and son in Los Angeles.

In his final Lakers season, 2025–26, James played alongside Luka Dončić. With Dončić and Austin Reaves injured to start the playoffs, James led the Lakers past Houston in the first round before the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder swept them in the Western Conference semifinals, ending with a 115–110 loss on May 11, 2026 (AP via NBA.com). Afterward he said he had not decided whether to play a 24th season.

His longevity is itself a record: 2026–27 is his 24th NBA season.