LeBron James and his wife, Savannah, have been together since high school. The couple met in Akron, Ohio. They later married in 2013. Together, they have three children – LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., Bryce Maximus, and Zhuri Nova.
As LeBron’s basketball career has soared, he has credited Savannah James support. “I’d be absolutely nothing without my queen,” says the player known to fans as King James.
In February 2023, Savannah James celebrated her husband’s record. LeBron became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Savannah gathered with friends and family on the court when he scored. She also made LeBron a congratulatory video. It said:
“I am so proud of you. I see your hard work and sacrifice daily. I know this wasn’t your goal, but you did it. You should congratulate and celebrate yourself. You deserve respect. It couldn’t happen to a better person. I love you.”
In July, LeBron honored Savannah at the ESPYs. He won for best record-breaking performance. “No one has sacrificed more to support our family than you,” he told SavannahJames . “I appreciate you and love you.”
Though shy of the spotlight, Savannah makes her mark. She has personal business ventures. She is passionate about helping young people.
To learn more about LeBron’s high school sweetheart Savannah James, keep reading.
Savannah James And Lebron Met As Teenagers
In 2018, Savannah told Cleveland Magazine that she first met her future husband when she was a 16-year-old high school sophomore. LeBron was a year older and attended a rival school. She recalled that he’d asked a friend for her phone number. However, she decided to take his number instead. “One day, I’m sitting around – I was probably bored or something – and I’m like, ‘Oh, I forgot! I have this number for this guy that I can call. He seemed interested, so let’s see,'” she said.
LeBron invited her to one of his basketball games, and afterward, the pair linked up with friends to go to Applebee’s. Their first solo date, at Outback Steakhouse, came a few weeks later.
Savannah knew it was love pretty quickly. In 2010, she told Harper’s Bazaar: “I knew he loved me when I left my leftovers from dinner in his car. I’d totally forgotten about them, but he brought them to me. I think he just wanted another excuse to come and see me.”
Savannah James Grew Up the Youngest of Five Children
The Ohio native grew up with four other siblings. Her parents instilled a spirit of generosity and kindness in their children. Savannah told Cleveland Magazine that her mom, Jennifer, and dad, JK, always had an open-door policy with their children’s friends. “If they had something going on at home, or they just needed a haven, my mom and dad always opened up their doors,” she shared.
Savannah James Prefers Staying Out of the Spotlight
Though she’s now part of a power couple, Savannah told Harper’s Bazaar she finds fame “kind of weird.” She said, “I’ve always been in the background. Now that magazines and the paparazzi are taking pictures of me, it’s kind of weird. I never thought it would get to this magnitude, but clearly, I was mistaken.”
She echoed those sentiments to Cleveland Magazine. She added, “When you want me to be on a T.V. show or walk the red carpet or something, I definitely get a little bit clammy. That’s a bit out of my comfort zone.”
Savannah and LeBron Have Three Children Together
During Savannah’s senior year – and LeBron’s rookie year in the NBA – the couple had an unplanned pregnancy with their first child, LeBron “Bronny” James Jr. He was born on Oct. 6, 2004. Of the experience, she told Harper’s Bazaar, “I was thinking, ‘What am I going to tell my parents? What’s going to happen to his career?’ I was very scared. I was bawling. But [LeBron] said, ‘It’s not going to slow me down, and it’s not going to slow you down. We’re going to keep doing what we have to do.'”
Bronny James was joined by baby brother Bryce James on June 14, 2007, and sister Zhuri Nova on Oct. 22, 2014.
Now a teenager, Bronny has shown real promise as a basketball player. His proud parents are happy to support his athletic endeavors. On Jan. 11, 2023, LeBron and Savannah James attended their oldest child’s senior night game. Bryce was on the court as well, and Zhuri watched from the stands.
Four months later, Bronny committed to play basketball at the University of Southern California. The young athlete had only just started practices with his new team when he suffered from cardiac arrest during a workout in July.
The following day, a representative for the James family explained: “Medical staff was able to treat Bronny and take him to the hospital. He is now in stable condition and no longer in ICU.” Lets explore, Who Is Bronny James Girlfriend, Peyton Gelfuso?
Savannah Is Passionate About Philanthropy and Giving Back
In 2017, Savannah James launched her mentorship program, Women of Our Future. This provides one-on-one counseling and support for young girls in Akron, as she explained to Cleveland Magazine. She also spoke at the Akron Community Foundation’s “For Women, Forever” event in 2018. Additionally, she was an honorary chair for the YWCA of Greater Cleveland’s Circle fundraiser in 2018.
Since 2013, she has run the annual I PROM-ise Makeover event. This offers local Akron students the chance to get prom attire and accessories for free.
“I’m still a very private person,” she told Cleveland Magazine. “But these things reflect the passion that I have for giving back and philanthropy. So with those things, I don’t mind stepping out.”
Savannah Manages the James Household and Family
In 2017, LeBron told Vogue that Savannah is in charge of managing the lives of the couple’s three kids due to his busy schedule. “I’m gone a lot, so she is the boss of the household and the rule-setter,” he said. “It’s hard for me to go on the road for two and half weeks and then come home and tell my kids, ‘Look, this is how it should be done,’ when she’s been home every day.”
Savannah Found Success in Business With and Without LeBron
While the family was in Miami during LeBron’s tenure with the Miami Heat, Savannah ran The Juice Spot. This was a juicery in the Brickell neighborhood. She closed it after two years when the family moved back to Cleveland.
Together, the couple also launched their furniture line with American Signature. It was called Home Court by LeBron James, as reported by Business Insider.
LeBron Relies on Savannah’s Support On and Off the Court
LeBron has praised Savannah James multiple times over the years, both in interviews and on social media. As he told Harper’s Bazaar in 2010: “A person like myself always needs a great sidekick and a person you can rely on no matter the circumstances. And she’s that. She’s got my back, and I love her for that.”
In September 2022, LeBron celebrated nine years of his supportive marriage. He did this by sharing a glamorous photo of himself and Savannah James from a Vanity Fair shoot on Instagram. He captioned the Instagram Story, “Queen.” He added, “P.S. YOU SO DAMN SEXY! WOW,” along with heart and drooling face emojis.
Savannah James also marked the special day on Instagram. She shared an adorable photo of the couple toasting with friends. “9 years down(21), forever to go!!,” she wrote in the caption. “Cheers to us, my love!!🥂Happy Anniversary!!💕#JamesGang.”
Savannah Graced the Cover of The Cut This Spring
In May 2023, The Cut released Savannah’s cover story. The mom-of-three talked candidly about why she didn’t seek fame and notoriety as a young NBA wife. She also discussed how she’s accepting that this is her moment to “be seen” by the public.
“That time, to be honest, was spent pouring into my boys. I just really wanted to enjoy being a mom and supporting my husband. I wasn’t super-comfortable with putting myself out like that,”
Savannah James said.
More recently, Savannah has taken a step into the spotlight. She is making more public appearances and posting more regularly on social media. The outlet asked her what it’s like to have people “thirsting” for her in the Instagram comments.
“I appreciate it. Everyone wants to see that people are interested in what they’re doing at the time,” Savannah responded. “Sometimes I’m like, ‘Oh, my gosh, a little bit much.’ But I get it, and I’m cool with it. I understood that maybe this is just where I’m at right now, and this is my time to, I don’t know, be seen.”
Savannah also addressed LeBron’s motto that “he would be nothing without” his wife.
“It’s very nice to hear that the sacrifices that you’ve made and the work that you’ve put into making sure that our children are raised properly and that he has a stable environment that’s full of love and good vibes and all the things – it’s a testament to be told that,” she said. “I think it’s a testament to myself to be like, ‘Yeah, thank you. I did that.'”
Savannah and LeBron Have Fun Costuming For Halloween
In October 2023, the couple dressed up in costumes from the 1988 film ‘Beetlejuice.’ LeBron wore a retro red suit and wacky wig to look like Beetlejuice, the movie’s main character. His wife, Savannah James , painted herself blue and donned a bright red wig to resemble Miss Argentina, another role from the film.
