LeBron Raymone James Sr. is a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely considered one of the greatest NBA players in history, James is frequently compared to Michael Jordan in debates over the greatest of all time. Playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers, James is the only player to have won NBA championships with three franchises. His accomplishments include four NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, four Finals MVP Awards, and two Olympic gold medals. James holds the record for all-time playoffs points, is third in all-time points, and eighth in career assists. James was on the All-NBA First Team 13 times, made the All-Defensive First Team five times, and an All-Star 17 times, including three All-Star MVP selections.  A prep-to-pro, he was selected by Cleveland with the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft. Named the 2003–04 NBA Rookie of the Year, he established himself as a premier player, winning the NBA MVP Award in 2009 and 2010. James left Cleveland in 2010 to sign as a free agent with Miami. This move was announced in an ESPN special titled The Decision and is one of the most controversial free-agent decisions in sports history. James won his first two NBA championships while playing for the Heat in 2012 and 2013; in both of these years, he also earned league MVP and Finals MVP. After his fourth season with the Heat in 2014, James opted out of his contract to re-sign with the Cavaliers. In 2016, he led the Cavaliers to victory over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals by coming back from a 3–1 deficit, delivering the franchise’s first championship, and ending Cleveland’s 52-year professional sports title drought. In 2018, James opted out of his contract with the Cavaliers to sign with the Lakers, where he won the 2020 championship and was awarded his fourth Finals MVP. Off the court, he is featured in books, documentaries, television commercials, and has hosted the ESPY Awards and Saturday Night Live. In 2015, he appeared in the film Trainwreck. James is also a part-owner of Liverpool F.C. since 2011, with the club winning the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League and 2019-2020 Premier League. Having become more involved in philanthropic and activist pursuits later in his career, James’s charitable organization (LeBron James Family Foundation) helped open a school, housing complex, and community center/retail plaza in his hometown of Akron.