From High School Sweethearts to NBA Legend: LeBron James & Savannah Brinson’s Love Story

This NBA superstar has many basketball achievements behind his name and is known for many great things. A lot of people consider him to be one of the greatest players of all time, and he’s named in the same breath as prestigious players like Michael Jordan. He’s also the youngest player ever to be drafted into the NBA at the tender age of only 18. This was only the beginning of great things, so let’s take a look at the interesting life of a living legend and his sweetheart, Savannah.

On the second to last day of the year 1984, a young mother from Akron, Ohio, gave birth to a healthy boy. The young mother, Gloria Marie James, named him her newborn boy LeBron, which roughly translates to “the brown-haired one.”

Unfortunately, Gloria James had to raise that little boy all by herself, with only the help of her mother. But regardless of the absence of a father figure, she raised him to become a person everyone wants to know.

With her mother’s passing when she was only 19, Gloria had to raise the boy alone, and he was now just over two years old. This meant no more help from anybody, so she had to care for a little boy on her own.

While going from one neighborhood to the next in Akron, finding a job was difficult, so life became quite challenging. This was when she decided that she needed to move to a place where there’d be some stability for her and the boy.

While they were living in Akron, they moved around a lot, and often they stayed with friends. This made him change schools regularly, and he lost nearly half of the year while traveling from one place to another.

At this time of his life, he found comfort in sports and started playing pee wee football for the South Side Rangers. This team, where he found sanctuary, was coached by Frank Walker, who decided to look out for the family.

When Frank Walker and his wife Pam heard that the young mother was looking for a new place, he made her an offer. So, they moved in with the Walkers and became part of a healthy home environment where a child could grow up.

Frank and his wife asked Gloria to move in with them until she found something permanent for her and her child. This was the best thing that could happen for the little boy who was struggling to find his place in life.

A great opportunity was given to LeBron by Frank, who was the coach of the youth football team. When he was still in fourth grade, he joined the team and became friends and teammates with Frank Walker Jr.

This was a great way for the energetic young boy to find his feet and become part of a team. Becoming part of something that meant a lot to him was only the beginning of a new era in his life.

When LeBron James was nine years old, he was introduced to basketball by his coach and mentor, and that changed everything. After his first taste of basketball, there was no stopping this young player, and he played whenever he could.

His first introduction was joining the first rec-league basketball team, the Summit Lake Community Center Hornets. This was where he belonged, James was in his element now, and things just started happening for this young athlete.

Just one year after joining the team of Frank Walker, LeBron James joined the Shooting Stars basketball team. This was a traveling youth league basketball team and was part of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) from Northeast Ohio.

This team became both a local and national hit and showed that LeBron was an exceptional player. Life was becoming great for the young boy who had recently struggled to stay ahead with his schoolwork.

It was playing for this team that LeBron and three of his teammates became known as the Fabulous Four. They were LeBron James, Sian Cotton, Willie McGee, and Dru Joyce, who led their basketball team.

These four also became best friends off the court and ended up in the same high school after a mutual decision. They all chose to attend the private school, St. Vincent-St. Mary high school.

While LeBon was playing in the Summit Lake community team, Dru Joyce or Little Dru was playing at the Ed Davis Community Center team. They practiced together at the Salvation Army gym and soon started playing together in the traveling Youth League team.

Cotton, who was a football and baseball player, was persuaded to play basketball and joined them soon after. When McGee moved from Chicago to live with his older brother, he joined their team. With the addition of McGee, the group was complete.

When joining this school, the first thing that Lebron did was join the many different sports teams played with a ball. LeBron became a favorite in both the football and basketball teams, where he dominated in all aspects.

Unfortunately, he had an injury while playing football, making him focus more on playing basketball than the other. According to expert sports analysts, if it weren’t for that, LeBron would easily have been chosen to play in the NFL.

Savannah was born on August 27th, 1986 as the youngest daughter of JK and Jennifer Brinson. She was one of five children and, being the youngest, was raised by all members of the family.

She grew up in a stable and healthy environment with parents who taught her the better values of life. This made her appreciate many things and made her care not just about her close family but also about those who are in need.

As long as Savanah can remember, her parent’s house was always open to those who needed a place or any help. Her parents were always taking care of others who were in need.

These were some of the values she learned from her parents, which made her the person she is today. Any kid or friend of her two brothers and two sisters who had some kind of trouble or need was always welcome in their home.

While she was a member of the cheerleading squad, Savannah Brinson was also quite an accomplished athlete in her own right. She also grew up in Akron and was in a rival school in the area where LeBron was born and raised.

She was part of her school’s softball team and had quite a busy social life at the age of 16. At that time, she knew nothing of the popular basketball player just a few miles away.

He was only 17, and she was 16 when they met, making them the first famous couple from Akron, Ohio. When asked much later, LeBron could still remember what color clothes she wore that first day they met.

They first met when Savanah was a high school sophomore and LeBron was attending a rival school; they became high school sweethearts after that. She remembered that he had asked a friend for her number and she decided that she would take his phone number.

According to LeBron, he didn’t have the courage to ask her out at first and asked a friend to be his wingman. Even though they were in rival schools, that didn’t bother him, and he decided to go after her anyway.

Even though he didn’t muster the courage to ask her out, they eventually became a couple and have been ever since. Many fans and the press say they are the first power couple coming from the same highly competitive area.

Fortunately for LeBron, the wingman dared to ask for Savannah’s number on his behalf and passed it on. Savannah recalled she first thought to say no and ask for his number instead, so she could decide whether or not she wanted to meet him.

It didn’t take long for her to make a move and give him a call, which according to her, wasn’t a dramatic decision. She recalled she had the number of a boy and decided to call him and see how it went.

Because they were both athletes, LeBron asked her to attend one of the basketball games he was playing. She was quite surprised to find out that he was very talented and that he was a local hotshot at his high school.

After that match, she joined him and his team at a local Applebee’s, where they could get to know each other better in a friendly environment. This was the beginning of a years-long relationship that just got better over time.

For high schoolers, their first date was quite a decent feat; he took her out for an Outback Steakhouse dinner. According to Savannah, the date was very good but what impressed her most was the deed of chivalry after dinner.

She had her leftovers packed in a takeaway bag but forgot to take them with her. Luckily, he saw that she’d missed the bag and took care of it by bringing it to her.

LeBron James was a real gentleman and respected her parents’ rules by staying within the curfew set by them. He was wise enough to know that winning the favor of her parents was the best way to earn the girl’s respect.

LeBron made sure that her family knew that he was quite serious about Savannah and obeyed their rules. He brought her home in time and tried not to get on the bad side of her father.

Even though LeBron was quite a hotshot at his high school, his talent wouldn’t win her heart. She wasn’t interested in anything other than his personality and him being himself; that’s what made him attractive to her.

She didn’t need any fans or the spotlight or a big bank account to make her fall for this young athlete. She stuck with him right from the start, and they grew together into a great couple.

In 2003, LeBron James was not yet 19, and he was already a top pick in the NBA draft. This was a big year for him, not just because it was his senior year in high school but also for his basketball future.

He was destined for greater things than just being the hotshot basketball talent of his high school. Before he could get his bearings, he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, which started his big-league life.

This was not junior or high school basketball, this was the big leagues, and much more was expected from LeBron James. Being the youngest rookie placed much more pressure on this talented player, even someone as talented as LeBron.

He was becoming an adult very quickly, much faster than was expected of most 18-year-old boys who’d just started senior year. But that was to become even worse with the newest event happening in the life of LeBron James and Savannah Brinson.

The pressure on LeBron was getting even stronger when he received the news that Savannah was expecting a baby. Everything happened at once; he was now a senior in high school, became the youngest ever top pick draft for the NBA, and now this.

With life getting a lot more complicated and intense, his first season in the NBA was about becoming very busy. But being the professional athlete that he is, he withstood the pressure and supported his high school sweetheart.

By the time it was prom for the 18-year-old Savannah, she was already five months into her pregnancy. She designed the dress to hide the bump, but she said afterward that she looked terrible. Luckily, that’s just her opinion.

The design was quite fashionable at that time, so nobody noticed that she was hiding something from them. They both got through this and became better people and a baby richer, even though she was quite nervous.

She was scared to tell her parents that she was expecting a baby and what it would do to LeBron’s new NBA career. LeBron put her mind to rest with the assurance that they’d get through this together, no matter what.

LeBron told her that this wouldn’t slow them down and that they’d keep doing what they were doing. This put her mind at ease, so she told her parents about it and everything worked out just fine.

Then, on October 6th, 2004, they became a family of three. They called the baby boy LeBron James Jr. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, as he’s just as talented as his father and participated in various sports.

But having the name of a famous father can have its own difficulties, as he experienced in his young life. There was a lot of pressure on Jr. to walk in the footsteps of an overachiever like LeBron James.

LeBron James Jr. is affectionately known as “Bronny” to his parents and everyone else close to the family. He also needed that pet name so people could know they weren’t talking about his famous father.

Bronny is a talented sportsman in his own right and has focused all his attention and talent on basketball. At high school age, he’s already drawing a lot of attention and will bring honor to his family name.

Three years after their firstborn, LeBron and Savannah had another child, a baby brother for Bronny, Bryce Maximus James. Following in his father and brother’s footsteps, he started playing basketball at a very young age.

This son of Lebron was named after the main gladiator Maximus in his favorite movie, The Gladiator. Even though LeBron still needed to attend a practice session, he stood by Savannah all the time she was in labor.

He can easily join the NBA in a few short years and even at the same age as his father at 18. This will be a great lineage of excellent sportsmen from the LeBron James family.

At the age of 15, Bryce was already a little taller than his older brother, Bronny, and played his father’s favorite game. It will be a great day for LeBron James if he can play with both of his sons in the NBA.

After the birth of his second son, LeBron James decided to move from his hometown team, Cleveland Cavaliers, to Miami. His many fans at home weren’t happy when they heard that their favorite player was going to join a rival team.

This happened in 2010 when LeBron became a free agent and joined the Miami Heat team. He was welcomed by the officials, and the team’s fans, with open arms.

Many Cleveland Cavalier fans made their voice heard when it was announced that LeBron was making a move. This was made public on the TV special, The Decision, and was accepted with mixed emotions.

He signed a six-year deal with Miami Heat and brought a lot of talent and experience. In his own words: “To have the best opportunity to win now and to win into the future.”

LeBron and Savannah had been an item for many years now, and with two children already, they needed to make their arrangement permanent. So, LeBron popped the question in 2011, and they were engaged for two years.

On September 14th, 2014, they celebrated their years together and got married. Their wedding took place in San Diego and lasted for three days to make it extra special while everyone enjoyed it.

Just over a month after they got married, their daughter was born on October 22nd, 2014. This was a happy day for the father, LeBron James, who admitted a great change in his life.

According to LeBron, it changed him in many ways, especially the responsibility he felt for the women in his life. He also said that being Zhuri Nova’s father made him a better, stronger, and more dedicated man.

At a young age, she already knew how to use the family name to become a little star on her own. With a YouTube channel of her own, All Things Zhuri,  she has more than 200,000 followers.

Regular videos about her own daily life and parents are posted for the subscribers to view. Her family, friends, and loving parents are featured in these videos.

To the delight of his many fans back home, Lebron announced in 2014 that he was returning to his home team. This was indeed a happy day for his fans and those who supported the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It was also great for both LeBron and Savannah to return home to where they first met. Now, they could settle there and let their children grow up in the same place they fell in love.

When Lebron James returned to his home team, he made them a promise that he’d give them another win. This promise to grant the city another championship was what he planned to do.

In 2016, the man made his promise come true, and the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA finals. This was all to the delight of his home team fans and the LeBron James fans.

All the while, his wife, Savannah, kept a low profile and stayed home with the kids, playing mom and housewife. Every now and then, she’d appear in public with her husband on occasions, but she didn’t like the limelight.

It’s not that she didn’t have the personality and looks to become a star herself. According to her, it wasn’t her scene, so she wasn’t available for many interviews.

Just like her parents, Savannah decided to give back to the community and started a mentorship program for teenage girls. This local mentorship was for girls in her hometown and community called, Akron: Woman of Our Future.

The whole family got involved in her charity undertakings, and even her husband, LeBron, became involved. She also started the LeBron James Family Foundation to do good deeds in the world.

This foundation helps youth in the community with problems and keeps them in school. Helping youth overcome difficulties and giving them a better education will give them a better and more secure future.

The foundation led by this couple also started the I Promise School, a public elementary school in Akron, Ohio. This will help to lay a sturdy foundation for those children with troubled backgrounds to have more stability.

Savannah threw her heart into these foundations and started another one called the I PROMise Makeover. This is an organization that provides prom dresses for underprivileged teens in the community.

This made an impact on the community in which they grew up and met each other. A lot of money has been donated by the LeBron James Family Foundation towards scholarships at Akron university.

The James household is one happy family and is just what LeBron and Savannah wanted for their home and children. Because LeBron grew up without a father, he wanted to be there for his children so they could have what he did not.

This is a great achievement for someone who didn’t have dual-parent role models when growing up. Now, both LeBron and Savannah James are happy to be called Mom and Dad.

Even though Gloria struggled to give her son the best she could, she achieved a lot with little to spare. It’s clear that LeBron has a great appreciation for the woman who raised him into the man he’s become.

Nowadays, he’s able to provide for his wife and family and give his mother everything she didn’t have. This is a great way of saying ‘thank you, mom!’

Just like her parents, Savannah made the James home a place of hospitality and enjoys having friends and family over. The same values she was taught by her parents are now part of their huge home in Los Angeles.

Every visitor to their home is made to feel welcome and stay for dinner or just have coffee. It’s great to see that these people didn’t forget their roots.

Even though they’re very popular and have millions of fans, the James couple didn’t change. They’re still the down-to-earth people they were when they just started out with much less at their disposal.

It’s important to LeBron and Savannah that their children stay humble, which is why they provide that example. As LeBron has said, his family keeps him grounded.

Since that day in 2002 when they first met, LeBron and Savannah have been together and kept it that way. They went from high school sweethearts to the mom and dad of three children and they became famous.

They’ve made it far and will keep going for the sake of their family and true love. It’s nice to know that they’re committed to each other, their children, and their fans.