LEBRON James made his first Sports Illustrated cover in 2002 with the magazine heralding the Akron native “the Chosen One” at the age of 17.
The year would prove to be extremely significant to both the NBA superstar’s career and life as around the same time, he met his future wife, Savannah Brinson.
LeBron James met future wife Savannah Brinson while in high schoolCredit: Getty
LeBron and Savannah got married in September 2013Credit: Getty
They have three children, sons Bronny and Bryce and daughter ZhuriCredit: Getty
James played ball for St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, when he met the then-16-year-old cheerleader and softball player at Buchtel.
They attended rival schools but, as luck would have it, LeBron saw Savannah at a local football game.
And she wouldn’t forget she had taken his phone number.
A few weeks later, they went on their first date at Outback Steakhouse.
That day, Savannah knew the pair had something special going on.
“I knew he loved me when I left my leftovers from dinner in his car,” she would later tell Harper’s Bazaar.
“I’d totally forgotten about them, and he brought them to me. I think he just wanted another excuse to come and see me.”
LeBron and Savannah quickly learned the challenges of adult life.
She was five months pregnant when they attended her senior prom during James’ rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003.
Bronny was born on October 6, 2004, nearly three months before LeBron turned 20.
Three years later, they welcomed Bronny’s little brother, Bryce.
But, just as on the court, LeBron cherished the extra responsibility that parenthood brought to his life.
“My sons are the only reason why I’m still sane,” he would say.
“They don’t know if I missed the last three shots to win the game or if I turned the ball over.
“All they know is they see their daddy coming out the locker room and they’re ready to play.”
Savannah stood by James when he decided to join the Miami Heat in 2010 — even though Florida’s Magic City wasn’t her favorite choice.
They were “soul mates,” she explained, and that’s why their love blossomed no matter what.
And LeBron felt comfortable near his childhood sweetheart, and knew he could always rely on her no matter what.
A year later, he felt ready to pop the question.
“It felt like a finals game,” the NBA superstar told Oprah about his proposal at a New Year’s Eve party in France.
They tied the knot in San Diego in September 2013, nearly two years later.
And LeBron was there to make sure the love of his life had the wedding of her dreams.
“Savannah gets whatever she wants on her day,” he said.
Some 200 guests attended the three-day reception at Grand Del Mar Hotel.
LeBron’s then-Heat teammates Chris Bosh, Shane Battier, Norris Cole, and Dwyane Wade as well as Miami’s owner, Micky Arison, and head coach Erik Spoelstra were all present.
But perhaps the biggest guests ended up performing at the wedding.
Beyonce and Jay Z serenaded Crazy in Love for the newlyweds on their memorable day.
Since then, daughter Zhuri has joined the James gang.
And Savannah has launched a career of her own, as an entrepreneur and philanthropist.
She’s been giving back to the community by providing counseling and financial aid to Akron’s young girls through initiatives like I PROMise Makeover and Women of Our Future.
“They look like the 2023 Rockefellers,” said James’ mother, Gloria, who raised the NBA superstar without his biological father, Anthony McClelland.
Quite a jarring comparison considering the James family had to move homes several times in a year as Gloria struggled to find a steady source of income during LeBron’s childhood.
The Los Angeles Lakers All-Star now is a four-time NBA champion with just as many MVP titles and a net worth of over $1billion.
But LeBron says he owes it all to Savannah.
“Who am I [without] you in my corner, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!,” he wrote on the day of their eighth wedding anniversary.
“Love you.”
LeBron’s mom, Gloria James, has said he and Savannah look like ‘the 2023 Rockefellers’Credit: Getty
LeBron has a net worth of over $1billionCredit: Getty
