Departing Cleveland for Miami, he eventually secured a championship title before returning to his cherished northeast Ohio, where he fulfilled another title promise. He then moved on to the Los Angeles Lakers, ready for a new challenge. He took part in eight consecutive finals, surpassing any other NBA player in the number of games won and MVP awards received over the last decade. He also founded a school and married his high school love.
“Is that it?” LeBron James inquired, pretending to be shocked.
No, that’s not the complete picture. What we discussed were merely highlights from the past decade. There are countless more, as the individual known as “King” has spent the previous ten years ruling supreme, showing no indications of decelerating.
James is The Associated Press male athlete of the decade, adding his name to a list that includes Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky and Arnold Palmer. He was a runaway winner in a vote of AP member sports editors and AP beat writers, easily outpacing runner-up Tom Brady of the New England Patriots.
“You add another 10 years of learning and adversity, pitfalls, good, great, bad, and any smart person who wants to grow will learn from all those experiences,” James, who turns 35 Monday, told The AP. “A decade ago, I just turned 25. I’m about to be 35 and I’m just in a better (place) in my life and have a better understanding of what I want to get out of life.”
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt ranked third for his domination in sprints at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. In fourth place was soccer superstar Lionel Messi, while fifth place went to Michael Phelps, the U.S. swimmer. Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, retired with 28 medals, 23 of which were gold.
On Sunday, James was declared the winner, following the announcement on Saturday that Serena Williams was the AP’s female athlete of the decade. He is on track to lead the league in assists for the first time in his 17th season, while still being one of the NBA’s top scorers.
“Nothing surprises me when it comes to LeBron James,” said Denver coach Michael Malone.
James has scored more points than any other NBA player in the past decade, including playoffs. At the start of the decade, he ranked 124th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Now, he is on the verge of surpassing Kobe Bryant to clinch the No. 3 spot. He is close to reaching No. 2 Karl Malone and No. 1 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Does he have Abdul-Jabbar in his sights? Is his goal for the new decade to catch him?
“Obviously, I see it,” James admitted. “It would be dishonest of me to say that I don’t. However, I’m not saying that if I play for a certain amount of time or if I average a certain number, that’s my goal. I’ve never approached my career in that way. I’ve always simply allowed things to unfold naturally. Whatever comes, comes. But yes, I do acknowledge it.”
Even now, his work ethic continues to astonish those closest to him.
This past summer, James, who continues to be passionate about work despite having attained fame and wealth, had a typical day that started at 3 a.m. By 3:45 a.m., he’d be at the Warner Bros. lot, where a weight room and court were specially built for him. At 4 a.m., he’d start lifting weights, followed by shooting hoops by 5:30 a.m. By 7 a.m., he’d be ready to begin another day of filming the “Space Jam” remake he’s been planning for years.
“James is fully committed to everything, particularly his game and craft. He does whatever it takes,” said Mike Mancias, a trusted and long-standing member of James’ inner circle, whose job for over 15 years has been to keep James fit. “That’s just who he is.”
James’ 2010s began with “The Decision,” a televised announcement that was heavily criticized, in which he revealed his decision to leave Cleveland for Miami. It should be noted that the show managed to raise over $2.5 million for charity despite the controversy. He played with the Heat for four seasons, reaching the NBA Finals each year alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. James claimed his first championship in 2012, famously stating “it’s about damn time” during the trophy celebration. He followed this up with another championship the next year with a Game 7 victory over San Antonio.
“Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said, ‘His leadership skills developed enormously during his time here. His impact on victories came as much from his leadership as it did from his talent. I believe this was the most significant lesson he learned with us. He has been able to apply this learning to other franchises, using it as a blueprint.'”
When he departed, Cleveland was heartbroken, but they eventually forgave him. In 2014, James came back home and took Cleveland to four consecutive finals. He then guided the Cavaliers to the 2016 championship. In the final seconds of Game 7 of that series, James made one of the most significant plays of his career by executing a chase-down block against Andre Iguodala of the Golden State.
In 2018, he headed off to LA.
Moving to Hollywood was a logical decision for him – he’s creating films, running a production company, and hosting a program named “The Shop” under his ‘Uninterrupted’ platform. The show hosts a variety of guests, from Drake to California Governor Gavin Newsom, who signed a legislation on the show that permits college athletes to earn money from their likeness and sign endorsement contracts.
“Numerous moments from this decade could be considered highlights, such as winning the two Miami championships, securing a championship in Cleveland, and the chase-down block,” James stated. “However, the absolute best moment? Without a doubt, it would be marrying Savannah. That tops the list.”
Six years ago, James and his longtime partner, Savannah Brinson, tied the knot. The couple had two sons who are already showing great skills in basketball. In 2014, they were blessed with a daughter.
For the majority of the last decade, James has also served as a target for critics.
He frequently voiced his opinion on social issues, including speaking out following the death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teenager from Florida, and campaigning for Hillary Clinton. He backed Colin Kaepernick’s protest methods against police brutality and racial injustice. Recently, he faced backlash, including criticism from leading U.S. lawmakers, for his comments following a controversial tweet from Houston’s general manager, Daryl Morey. Morey’s tweet, which supported the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, caused a significant fallout between the NBA and China.
“Regret is not something I harbor,” stated James. “There isn’t a single moment from the past ten years I wish to change or get back. If there was a poor situation or I could have performed better, then it was a learning experience for me.”
He is uncertain about the duration of his playing career and expresses regret over missing time with his kids. His “I Promise” school, which was established in 2018 in his native Akron, Ohio, has quickly become a success. He is eager to see this venture continue to flourish.
He is adored by some and disliked by others, but he is unfazed.
“James said, “When you have faith in your purpose or yourself, the opinions or feelings of others become irrelevant. If you let such things hinder or distract you from your mission, you won’t make any progress.”
Nothing deterred James in the 2010s.
