LeBron and Savannah James have been together for almost two decades. Here's a timeline of their love story.
2002: They met while in high school.
James was a rising superstar in basketball and football at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, when he met Savannah Brinson, a cheerleader and softball player from a rival school. He asked the then-16-year-old to a basketball game and she agreed. But Brinson knew there was something special brewing when he returned for her leftovers after their first date at Outback Steakhouse.
"I'd totally forgotten about them, and he brought them to me. I think he just wanted another excuse to come and see me," she told Harper's Bazaar.
2003: LeBron made the jump to the NBA.
The high school senior became the top pick in the 2003 NBA draft much to his girlfriend's surprise.
"I just thought he'd be a hometown hero for his era and it would be over," she said.
As luck would have it, James was selected by their hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.
2004: The couple welcomed their first child.
During James' rookie season, the couple learned that Savannah was pregnant.
"I was thinking, 'What am I going to tell my parents? What's going to happen to his career?'" explained Brinson."I was very scared. I was bawling. But he (James) 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.'"
On October 6, 2004, Brinson gave birth to LeBron James, Jr. aka Bronny.
2007: Another member joined the James family.
Three years later the couple had another son, Bryce Maximus, on June 14.
2010: The couple made the decision to move to Miami.
LeBron made the decision heard around the world when he decided to take his talents to Miami, Florida, and leave his hometown team. Savannah said she thought the public's outrage to the switch was unfair.
"You have fans and you think they're going to roll with you no matter what, and then they burn your jersey? It's unfair," Brinson told Harper's Bazaar. "But they did it. It's over."
2011: LeBron and Savannah got engaged.
James popped the question to his longtime love at a star-studded New Year's Eve bash in France.
"It felt like a finals game," he told Oprah Winfrey.
"I had been thinking about it, you know, for a while but it just came to me one day and I was like 'this is a part of growth for me,'" he continued. "This is I was like this is the lady and the woman I have been with through all the good and all the bad. She's been there for a long time and I wanted her to continue to be there with me, so I felt like at that moment it was time."
2013: The two tied the knot.
On September 14, the pair exchanged vows in San Diego, California, in a lavish three-day affair which ended with a farewell brunch.
Among the 200 guests were several of James' then-Miami Heat teammates including Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, owner Micky Arison, coach Erik Spoelstra, and actresses Gabrielle Union, and Lala Anthony. But the highlight of the festivities came when Beyoncé and Jay-Z performed "Crazy in Love" at the reception.
2014: The couple welcomed a daughter.
Zhuri Nova was born on October 22. In 2018, James shared the impact his daughter has had on his life.
"I had two boys first, my oldest son, LeBron Jr., and my younger son, Bryce Maximus, and people always told me, if you ever have a girl she'll change you," said James. "Three years ago, this bright spot right here happened to our family. And not only did she change me, she's made me a better person. A more dedicated person, a stronger person. I guess a more sensitive person that realized that I have so much more of a responsibility to women in general. So, thank you, Zhuri."
2016: The family moved back to Cleveland and James clinched a championship.
When James announced that he was returning home to the Cavaliers in 2014, he made a vow to bring a championship to the city. He made good on that promise in the 2016 NBA Finals, in an upset victory over the record-setting Golden State Warriors.
2017: The pair launched philanthropic ventures.
Savannah launched Akron: Women of Our Future, a mentorship program for high school girls at her alma mater, Buchtel Community Learning Center. Together with her husband, she continued their ongoing philanthropic ventures with the LeBron James Family Foundation back-to-school orientation to provide support for at-risk students. In 2018, with the support of the foundation, LeBron opened the I Promise School, a public elementary school in Akron, Ohio.
"If there's nothing more you can do for a child, just constantly encourage them and set them on the right path when it comes to sports or their schoolwork or nurturing a hobby — with whatever it is," Savannah told Vogue. "Just be a constant source of encouragement. That's what LeBron talks about — never give up."
2018: LeBron surprised Savannah for their anniversary.
For their fifth wedding anniversary, LeBron pulled out all the stops by having singer/songwriter Daniel Caesar serenade Savannah in their living room with his hit song "Best Part." James documented the sweet surprise on his Instagram story with the caption, "Happy Anniversary!!! Love you forever."
Next Story
I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Investors may not be too excited.
Catan adds climate change to the latest edition of the world-famous board game
Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
JNK India IPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more
Indian Army unveils selfie point at Hombotingla Pass ahead of 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market
