King James, his queen and their royal court. LeBron James is one of the best players in the NBA — and he’s doing his best to be a champion father off the court as well.
“The crazy thing is, my whole life I grew up resenting my father,” the Los Angeles Lakers player told Fatherly in October 2018 about how his own upbringing shaped the way he raises the three kids he shares with wife Savannah James: LeBron Jr. a.k.a Bronny, Bryce and Zhuri.
“Everything was like ‘F–k pops, he left me. Why would he do that to my mom?’” he recalled. “My mom was sixteen years old, she was a sophomore in high school when she had me. And I was like, ‘If I ever met him, we [are] going to blows right off [the] top.’”
As he got older, however, LeBron began to look at the situation from a different perspective. “I started to realize and think to myself, ‘Damn, what was he going through? Was it things that he couldn’t control?’” the basketball champion continued. “He’s the reason I am the father I am today. Because I always wanted to set an example and have the father figure in their lives so they never had that resentment.”
One month later, LeBron explained that fatherhood has changed the way he approaches everything in his life, including his time on the court. “What I’ve learned is to get the best out of my three kids, I can’t approach them all the same way because they all have different personalities,” the Ohio native said during a November 2018 appearance on the “Tim Ferris Show” podcast. “They all are different, and I had to find out how to tap into each one of my kids to get the same results but teach them differently, and that’s the same with being the leader of a basketball team or a franchise.”
He continued: “The number one thing is patience. When I talk about patience, it comes back to being a father… You can’t go in and say, ‘This is how I’m going to lead.’ It comes back to that patience of learning their mindsets, learning how you can get the most out of them, what triggers them to be their best, and what triggers them to not be their best. You learn that over time.”
LeBron’s supportive parenting approach will likely carry on even after his eldest son, Bronny, heads out into the world as an adult. “My last year [in the NBA] will be played with my son,” the athlete told The Athletic in February 2022. The teen is expected to become a first round NBA Draft pick when he’s eligible and will likely start playing professionally for the 2024-2025 season.
“Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be,” LeBron continued. “I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.”
Keep scrolling to see the sweetest moments from the “James Gang”:
King James, his queen and their royal court. LeBron James is one of the best players in the NBA — and he’s doing his best to be a champion father off the court as well.
“The crazy thing is, my whole life I grew up resenting my father,” the Los Angeles Lakers player told Fatherly in October 2018 about how his own upbringing shaped the way he raises the three kids he shares with wife Savannah James: LeBron Jr. a.k.a Bronny, Bryce and Zhuri.
“Everything was like ‘F–k pops, he left me. Why would he do that to my mom?’” he recalled. “My mom was sixteen years old, she was a sophomore in high school when she had me. And I was like, ‘If I ever met him, we [are] going to blows right off [the] top.’”
As he got older, however, LeBron began to look at the situation from a different perspective. “I started to realize and think to myself, ‘Damn, what was he going through? Was it things that he couldn’t control?’” the basketball champion continued. “He’s the reason I am the father I am today. Because I always wanted to set an example and have the father figure in their lives so they never had that resentment.”
One month later, LeBron explained that fatherhood has changed the way he approaches everything in his life, including his time on the court. “What I’ve learned is to get the best out of my three kids, I can’t approach them all the same way because they all have different personalities,” the Ohio native said during a November 2018 appearance on the “Tim Ferris Show” podcast. “They all are different, and I had to find out how to tap into each one of my kids to get the same results but teach them differently, and that’s the same with being the leader of a basketball team or a franchise.”
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He continued: “The number one thing is patience. When I talk about patience, it comes back to being a father… You can’t go in and say, ‘This is how I’m going to lead.’ It comes back to that patience of learning their mindsets, learning how you can get the most out of them, what triggers them to be their best, and what triggers them to not be their best. You learn that over time.”
LeBron’s supportive parenting approach will likely carry on even after his eldest son, Bronny, heads out into the world as an adult. “My last year [in the NBA] will be played with my son,” the athlete told The Athletic in February 2022. The teen is expected to become a first round NBA Draft pick when he’s eligible and will likely start playing professionally for the 2024-2025 season.
“Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be,” LeBron continued. “I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.”
Keep scrolling to see the sweetest moments from the “James Gang”:
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Credit: Courtesy of kingjames/Instagram
October 2022
The athlete celebrated his eldest son’s birthday via Instagram. “How is this kid 18 years old today y’all!!??!! I can’t deal with it . I’m so proud of the young man you’ve become kid! Continue to be YOU throughout your journey because it’s simply better that way! And I’ll be right beside you whenever/however needed! Love you young @bronny! !! Happy bday,” the proud dad captioned pictures with the teenager.
Credit: Courtesy of kingjames/Instagram
August 2022
LeBron shared snaps of his sons on their first day of school. “Back to school chronicles!! Bronny senior year and Bryce sophomore year begins! Have a great one Young King’s ! Love y’all beyond words can express,” he wrote via Instagram.
Credit: AFF-USA/Shutterstock
July 2021
LeBron and Savannah hit the purple carpet at the July 2021 premiere of Space Jam: A New Legacy with their daughter.
Credit: Courtesy of LeBron James/Instagram
October 2020
“Happy 16 kid!!!!! 1 of a kind and I’ve loved every second of your existence so far in your young promising life!” LeBron wrote via Instagram, alongside a photo of him holding Bronny as a newborn, in honor of his birthday. “You’re SPECIAL kid (always know that)! Continue to grow and continue to lead your generation to heights maybe you didn’t even think was possible because you guys are simply that SPECIAL!! … Love you kid until the wheels fall off and when they do we push the car to our destination side by side!”
Credit: Courtesy of LeBron James/Instagram
September 2020
The former Cleveland Cavaliers player shared how much he missed being around his kids while on the road. ” MISS YALL SO DAMN MUCH!!!!! It’s killin me ,” he wrote.
Credit: Courtesy of Savannah James/Instagram
June 2020
Savannah gushed about her husband on Father’s Day, sharing a sweet selfie that the point guard took while on a drive with his kids.
Credit: Courtesy of Zhuri James/YouTube
January 2020
LeBron helped Zhuri make snacks in a January 2020 video for her YouTube channel, “All Things Zhuri,” where he joked about using a child-sized spatula for the task. “I’m not supposed to mix with this, but whatever, we can do what we want because this is Zhuri’s YouTube channel,” the athlete says at one point, while the little one giggles. “She can do what she wants. Ain’t that right?”
Credit: Courtesy of LeBron James/Instagram
September 2019
“My LEGACY ” the point guard wrote via Instagram, alongside a photo of his kids standing in the hallway at the I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, which is funded by the LeBron James Family Foundation.
Credit: Courtesy of LeBron James/Instagram
February 2019
“Man after being away from my family as a whole for 18 straight days I couldn’t wait to reunite today after practice and school for my kids,” LeBron wrote while sharing a selfie of him relaxing with Savannah and the kids. “Nothing like hanging and banging around with my #JamesGang.”
Credit: Courtesy of Savannah James/Instagram
December 2018
The James Gang got into the holiday spirit by posing for family photos in matching onesie pajamas.
Credit: Matt Baron/Shutterstock
September 2018
Bryce, Savannah, Bronny and Zhuri supported the NBA champion at the premiere of his animated film, Smallfoot.
Credit: Courtesy of Savannah James/Instagram
June 2018
Savannah described her husband and daughter as “2 of [my] 4 heartbeats” while sharing a sweet father-daughter moment from a family trip to the beach.
Credit: Courtesy of Savannah James/Instagram
March 2018
“My girl had her first ‘nastics’ class as she calls it. Had so much fun, she cried on her way out,” Savannah wrote via Instagram, sharing a photo of LeBron proudly holding Zhuri after class. The interior designer added that her daughter was a “#YoungGabbyOutThere,” referring to Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas.
