<P> In Miami, James captured his first NBA championship in 2012, and followed that with another title a year later . He was named league MVP and NBA Finals MVP in both championship years . In 2014, James opted out of his contract with Miami after four seasons to re-sign with the Cavaliers . In 2016, James led the Cavaliers to their first NBA championship by defeating the Golden State Warriors to end Cleveland's 52 - year professional sports title drought . </P> <P> Often considered the best basketball player in the world and regarded by many as the greatest of all time, James' NBA accomplishments are extensive, and include four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, three NBA Finals MVP Awards, two Olympic gold medals, three All - Star Game MVP awards, an NBA scoring title, and is the all - time NBA playoffs scoring leader . He has also amassed fourteen NBA All - Star Game appearances, twelve All - NBA First Team designations, and five All - Defensive First Team honors . </P> <P> James was born on December 30, 1984 in Akron, Ohio to a 16 - year - old mother, Gloria Marie James . His father, Anthony McClelland, was reportedly Gloria's casual boyfriend with an extensive criminal record . Gloria raised the child on her own . When James was growing up, life was often a struggle for the family, as they moved from apartment to apartment in the seedier neighborhoods of Akron while Gloria struggled to find steady work . Realizing that her son would be better off in a more stable family environment, Gloria allowed him to move in with the family of Frank Walker, a local youth football coach, who introduced James to basketball when he was nine years old . </P> <P> As a youth, James played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars . The team enjoyed success on a local and national level, led by James and his friends Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, and Willie McGee . The players were inseparable and dubbed themselves the "Fab Four", promising each other that they would attend high school together . In a move that stirred local controversy, they chose to attend St. Vincent--St. Mary High School, a predominately white private Catholic school . </P>

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