First published 2023
LeBron James rises from poverty in Akron, Ohio to become one of basketball's greatest players. Jeff Benedict traces this extraordinary journey through three years of research and over two hundred interviews. The story begins with a scared child living in public housing, raised by a teenage mother who sometimes left him alone. LeBron missed nearly 100 days of fourth grade and had never played organized basketball. Benedict shows how a network of mentors and friends helped transform this lost boy into a high school phenomenon. The biography follows LeBron's path through his legendary NBA career, spanning championships with three different teams and Olympic triumphs. Beyond basketball, Benedict documents how LeBron built a business empire, became the first active NBA player to reach billionaire status, and emerged as a voice on social justice issues. The author drew from thousands of primary documents, extensive video footage, and interviews with people who knew LeBron at every stage. This comprehensive account reveals how determination and community support lifted one child from destitution to global influence.
Genres: biography, business, african-american, 21st-century, social-justice, basketball, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: inspirational, rags-to-riches
Setting: Akron, Ohio
Period: 21st Century
559 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster Ltd