This individual departed from Cleveland to head to Miami, where he secured his first championship. He then returned to his cherished northeastern Ohio, fulfilling a promise of yet another title, before leaving for the Los Angeles Lakers to face a new challenge. He participated in eight consecutive finals, and over the past decade, no other NBA player has won more games or received more MVP awards. In addition to these accomplishments, he established a school and married his high school sweetheart.
“Is that it?” asked LeBron James, pretending to be surprised.
No, that’s not the entire story. Those were merely some notable moments from the past decade. There were plenty more, as the man known as “King” dominated over everyone else during the last ten years – showing no indications of losing momentum.
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.”
Usain Bolt from Jamaica, renowned for his dominance in sprints at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, came third. Lionel Messi, a superstar in soccer, was fourth while fifth place went to Michael Phelps. Phelps, a U.S. swimmer, retired as the most decorated Olympian in history, having won 28 medals, of which 23 were gold.
James was unveiled as the victor on Sunday, just a day following the announcement of Serena Williams as the AP’s female athlete of the decade. In his 17th season, he is expected to top the league in assists for the first time, maintaining his position among the NBA’s top scorers.
“LeBron James’ involvement never surprises me,” said Denver coach Michael Malone.
In the last decade, including playoffs, James has scored more points than any other player in the NBA. He began the decade ranked 124th on the all-time scoring list of the league. He is now on the verge of overtaking Kobe Bryant to claim the No. 3 spot. Karl Malone, at No. 2, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, at No. 1, are also within his grasp.
Is the aim to surpass Abdul-Jabbar? Is striving to catch up with him the objective for the new decade?
“Obviously, I see it. I’d be dishonest if I claimed otherwise,” James admitted. “I’m not aiming to predict, ‘OK, if I play this many minutes, if my stats are this’… I don’t operate that way because it’s never been my approach throughout my career. I’ve always simply let things unfold. Whatever’s meant to be, will be. But yes, I do see it.”
Even now, his work ethic continues to amaze those who are closest to him.
James, who still has a strong work ethic despite achieving fame and wealth, had a typical day like this during the past summer: He would wake up at 3 a.m., arrive at the Warner Bros. lot by 3:45 a.m. where a specially built weight room and court were at his disposal. By 4 a.m., he’d be weightlifting, practicing shots by 5:30 a.m., and by 7 a.m., he’d be prepared for another day of filming the “Space Jam” remake he had been planning for years.
“He does whatever is necessary to fulfill his commitments, particularly to his game and his craft. That’s his nature,” said Mike Mancias. A trusted member of James’ close circle for over 15 years, Mancias has been responsible for maintaining James’ fitness.
James’ 2010s kicked off with the highly controversial televised announcement known as “The Decision,” in which he declared his departure from Cleveland to join Miami. (Notably, the show raised over $2.5 million for charity despite the uproar it caused.) James played with the Miami Heat for four years, during which he made it to the NBA Finals each year alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. In 2012, he clinched the championship title – “it’s about damn time,” he exclaimed during the trophy celebration. The following year, he led his team to win Game 7 against San Antonio, securing back-to-back championships.
“Miami coach Erik Spoelstra spoke about his growth as a leader, saying, ‘He developed significantly in this area while with us. His leadership had as much of an impact on our victories as his talent did. I believe that was the key lesson he learned here. He has taken this experience to other franchises and continued to use it as a model.'”
Cleveland was heartbroken when he departed, but he was forgiven. In 2014, James came back home. He led Cleveland to four consecutive finals and brought the Cavaliers to victory in 2016. He made one of the most significant plays of his career in the final seconds of Game 7 in that series, by executing a chase-down block of Andre Iguodala from Golden State.
In 2018, he left for LA.
It was logical for him to go Hollywood – he’s making films, running a production company, and hosts a program named “The Shop” on his ‘Uninterrupted’ platform. This show features a variety of guests, ranging from Drake to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. On the show, Newsom signed a bill that permits college athletes to earn money from the use of their image and to sign endorsement contracts.
“Many moments from this decade would rank highly, such as winning the two Miami championships, earning a championship in Cleveland, and the chase-down block,” said James. “However, the top-most moment? It’s definitely marrying Savannah. That’s number one for sure.”
Six years ago, James and his longtime partner, Savannah Brinson, tied the knot. They were already parents to two sons, both of whom are talented basketball players. In 2014, they welcomed a daughter into their family.
For most of the last decade, James has also served as a lightning rod for critics.
He frequently utilized his voice on societal issues, expressing his opinions after the death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teenager from Florida, and campaigning on behalf of Hillary Clinton. He backed Colin Kaepernick’s approach to protesting against police brutality and racial inequality. Most recently, his comments following a tweet by Houston’s general manager Daryl Morey, which led to a significant divide between the NBA and China, and supported pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, were criticized by many, including top U.S. lawmakers.
James stated, “I do not live in regret. In the past ten years, there hasn’t been a single moment I wish I could reclaim. If there was a negative situation or an instance where I could have performed better, I viewed it as a learning experience.”
He’s unsure about the length of his playing career. He regrets not spending enough time with his children. His “I Promise” school, which was inaugurated in 2018 in his native Akron, Ohio, has been a success since its inception. He is keen on nurturing its continued growth.
While some people adore him, others do not. However, he remains unconcerned.
“Believing in your mission or in yourself is crucial. It doesn’t matter what others say or feel,” James stated. “If you let that hinder or distract you from your goal, you won’t make any progress.”
In the 2010s, nothing held James back.
