Basketball legend LeBron James with his kids Bryce, Zhuri and Bronny James, and his wife Savannah. Photo: Getty Images
LeBron James is one of the best basketball players of all time. He has had 20 seasons in the NBA, winning four titles and earning 19 All-Star nods.
But he’s equally focused on his family as his successful career.
LeBron James on the court with his family. Photo: @bronny/Instagram
LeBron has been with his wife Savannah, 36, since high school and the couple have three 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren together: Bronny, Bryce and Zhuri. LeBron, 38, has regularly praised his wife for keeping their family together, raising their 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren and being a great life sidekick.
But the James family were thrown into disarray this week after their eldest, Bronny, suffered a cardiac arrest at just 18 years old.
Here’s what you need to know about the royal family of basketball …
1. LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., 18
Bronny James poses during Sierra Canyon High basketball media day in October 2022, in Chatsworth, California. Photo: TNS
Bronny was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 in Cleveland on October 6, 2004. At the time, his famous dad had just won Rookie of the Year in his debut season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. News of Savannah and LeBron welcoming their first 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 was a surprise, as Savannah had previously hinted that they planned to wait so that a new 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 did not impact LeBron’s career, per Insider. The same source reported that Bronny became a regular at his dad’s games.
Now 18, Bronny has committed to playing for the USC Trojans at the start of the next season, per Independent. The publication reports that his talent on the court has sparked speculation that he will be drafted into the NBA in the next few years.
LeBron “Bronny” James Jr. is quickly climbing the ranks in basketball. Photo: @bronny/Instagram
Bronny graduated from Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles this spring, per CNN. At 190cm (6ft 3 inches), Bronny is known as a combo guard in basketball and was given a four-star recruit rating during the McDonald’s All-American Game in March, per the same source.
However, the sports world was shocked when Bronny suffered a cardiac arrest during a basketball practice session at the University of South California on Monday. Reports stated that he was initially taken to the ICU, but soon stabilised and was moved to another ward. His family have requested privacy, but sources have said they are “relieved” that he is out of ICU.
Bronny James, No. 6 of the West team, talks to his dad LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers after the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game at Toyota Center on March 28, in Houston, Texas. Photo: Getty Images
LeBron, who’s a billionaire according to Forbes, has famously said that he will only retire when he and his son get to play together on the same team. In an interview with The Athletic, he said he would do “whatever it takes to play with my son for one year”.
2. Bryce Maximus, 16
Bryce Maximus James could be on his way to basketball stardom, too. Photo: @_justbryce/Instagram
Just like his big brother Bronny, 16-year-old Bryce is following in the footsteps of their famous father. He received his first Division I scholarship offer to play basketball at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, per People.
LeBron has close ties to the university, with the team’s head coach Keith Dambrot previously coaching the basketball star when he was a high school student, states the same source.
Bryce Maximus and Bronny James have both inherited valuable basketball talent from their dad LeBron. Photo: @lebronjames/Twitter
People magazine reports that, last summer, Bryce and Bronny played for the California Basketball Club while competing against teams from Paris, Rome and London. The brothers share a close relationship; after Bronny’s cardiac arrest, Bryce shared a picture of the two of them together on his Instagram Stories.
3. Zhuri Nova, 8
Zhuri Nova is the daughter of LeBron and Savannah James. Photo: @allthingszhuri/Instagram
Influencer, YouTube star, fashionista – Zhuri Nova is practically the princess of the James household at just eight years old. Born in Ohio in 2014, she is the youngest 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 of the family.
American professional basketball player LeBron James (L), his daughter Zhuri James and wife Savannah Brinson James pose for a photo during the Space Jam: A New Legacy movie premiere at the Microsoft Theater in 2021. Photo: DPA
According to People magazine, she helped launch clothing brand Janie and Jack’s collection: Janie and Jack x Harlem’s Fashion Row when she was five. The publication reports that Zhuri hosted an event for the launch of the collection. She has a YouTube channel, All Things Zhuri, with around 207,000 subscribers.