The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 18, he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a high school junior.
The year he turned 19, he agreed to a deal with Nike, was drafted No. 1 by the Cavaliers and scored 25 points in his NBA debut. The year he turned 20, he won Rookie of the Year.
The year he turned 22, he was MVP of the All-Star Game and signed a three-year extension with the Cavaliers. The year he turned 23, he played in his first NBA Finals. The year he turned 24, he became the Cavaliers’ career scoring leader and won Olympic gold in Beijing.
The year he turned 25, he was named NBA Most Valuable Player. The year he turned 26, he won a second straight MVP award, then announced he would join the Miami Heat.
The year he turned 28, he won his first NBA championship and Finals MVP with the Heat, then Olympic gold in London. The year he turned 29, he won his fourth MVP award and a second championship. The year he turned 30, he announced he was returning to the Cavaliers.
The year he turned 32, the Cavaliers won Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Cleveland’s first title in 52 years. The year he turned 34, he agreed to a four-year deal with the Lakers, and the I Promise School opened in Akron.
The year he turned 36, the Lakers won the championship and he was Finals MVP for the fourth time. The year he turned 37, Sportico reported he was the first NBA player to reach $1 billion in career earnings while still playing. The year he turned 38, he passed Karl Malone for second on the NBA scoring list.
The year he turned 39, he broke the NBA career scoring record, and the Lakers won the inaugural in-season tournament. The year he turned 40, he became the first NBA player to score 40,000 points and won Olympic gold in Paris.
The year he turned 41, he played in his 23rd consecutive NBA season. The year he turned 42, he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals made and agreed to join the Philadelphia 76ers.
LeBron James (born Dec 30, 1984) was on the cover of Sports Illustrated on Feb 18, 2002, the year he turned 18, as a high school junior. He made his NBA debut on Oct 29, 2003, the year he turned 19. He won his first NBA title in 2012, the year he turned 28.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
It was his first Sports Illustrated cover. The story said many NBA scouts believed the high school junior would be the first pick in that year’s draft if league rules allowed him to enter it.
ESPN.com reported he agreed in principle to the seven-year deal, which sources said was worth more than $90 million.
Source 02 · ESPN · Sources: LeBron, Nike agree to seven-year deal · opens in a new tabThe Cavaliers selected him with the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.
Source 03 · The Plain Dealer (via Cleveland.com) · Selection of LeBron starts a new era for Cavs · opens in a new tabSource 02 · ESPN · Sources: LeBron, Nike agree to seven-year deal · opens in a new tab The Plain Dealer’s June 27 edition reports the pick as made the night before; ESPN gives June 26 as the draft date.He had 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals in a 106-92 loss to the Sacramento Kings, the AP reported.
Source 04 · ESPN · Expectations for James more than met · opens in a new tabHe received 78 of 118 first-place votes. The AP described him as the youngest Rookie of the Year.
Source 05 · ESPN · James receives 78 of 118 first-place votes · opens in a new tab The AP story, updated Apr. 21, says he won the award on Tuesday.He scored 29 points as the East beat the West 122-120.
Source 06 · ESPN · LeBron and Pistons lead East to All-Star game win · opens in a new tabThe extension was worth about $60 million, the AP reported. He signed it in Las Vegas.
Source 07 · ESPN · LeBron officially signs contract extension with Cavs · opens in a new tabIn Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs he scored 14 points in an 85-76 loss, the New York Times reported.
Source 08 · The New York Times · Spurs Show That James Has Much to Learn · opens in a new tabHe reached 10,391 points against Toronto, passing Brad Daugherty, in his 380th game.
Source 09 · Cleveland.com · LeBron James becomes Cleveland Cavaliers all-time scoring leader · opens in a new tabThe U.S. beat Spain 118-107 in the gold-medal game, its first Olympic gold since 2000. James scored 14 points.
Source 10 · Sportsnet · Mission accomplished for Redeem Team · opens in a new tabAt 24 years, 125 days old, he was at the time the youngest player voted MVP by sportswriters and broadcasters, NBA.com reported.
Source 11 · NBA.com · King James earns his place as Kia Most Valuable Player · opens in a new tabHe received 116 of 122 first-place votes, and the Cavaliers had the NBA’s best record at 61-21.
Source 12 · NBA.com (Cavaliers) · LeBron James Wins NBA’s 2009-10 Most Valuable Player Award · opens in a new tabOn an ESPN special he said he would leave the Cavaliers after seven years to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, the AP reported.
Source 13 · AP News · AP Was There: LeBron James dumps Cleveland for Miami · opens in a new tabThe Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games. He averaged 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists and was voted Finals MVP.
Source 14 · NBA.com · Top Moments: LeBron James wins his first championship in 2012 · opens in a new tabSource 15 · The Boston Globe · MVP clear choice · opens in a new tabThe U.S. beat Spain 107-100 in the final. James had 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Source 16 · ESPN · Team USA as good as gold again · opens in a new tabHe received 120 of 121 first-place votes and was the youngest player to win four MVPs, ESPN reported.
Source 17 · ESPN · LeBron James wins 4th MVP award · opens in a new tabHe had 37 points and 12 rebounds in Game 7 as the Heat beat the San Antonio Spurs 95-88. He was named Finals MVP for the second time.
Source 18 · ESPN · LeBron James named Finals MVP · opens in a new tabHe announced the move in an interview with Sports Illustrated, four years after leaving Cleveland for the Heat.
Source 19 · USA Today · LeBron James rejoins Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency · opens in a new tabThe Cavaliers won Game 7 at Golden State 93-89, ending Cleveland’s 52-year championship drought. He had 27 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists and three blocks and was voted Finals MVP unanimously.
Source 20 · The Washington Post · Cavaliers end over 50 years of Cleveland sports heartbreak · opens in a new tabSource 21 · NBA.com · LeBron James wins NBA Finals MVP for 3rd time · opens in a new tabThe contract was worth $154 million, NBA.com reported.
Source 22 · NBA.com · LeBron James agrees to four-year, $154-million contract with Lakers · opens in a new tabThe LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools opened the school to an inaugural class of 240 third- and fourth-graders. It was to grow to first through eighth grade by 2022.
Source 23 · ESPN · LeBron James opens up on his new school, the Lakers and life’s challenges · opens in a new tab Date of ESPN’s report from the school.The Lakers beat the Heat 106-93 to clinch the franchise’s 17th title. He won Finals MVP for the fourth time, the first player to win it with three different teams.
Source 24 · CBS Sports · LeBron James wins fourth NBA Finals MVP award · opens in a new tabSource 25 · Los Angeles Times · How the Lakers won the 2020 NBA championship · opens in a new tabSportico reported he was the first NBA player to make $1 billion in career earnings while still playing.
Source 26 · CBS Sports · First player in NBA history to make $1 billion while still playing · opens in a new tab Date of CBS Sports’ report.He passed Karl Malone, who scored 36,909 points, with 38 points against the Washington Wizards.
Source 27 · CBS Sports · LeBron James passes Karl Malone for second on all-time scoring list · opens in a new tab CBS Sports’ article is dated Mar. 20 and says Saturday night.A 14-foot fadeaway jumper at Crypto.com Arena put him alone atop the all-time scoring list, ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Source 28 · ESPN · LeBron James breaks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA scoring record · opens in a new tab ESPN’s article is dated Feb. 8 and says late Tuesday night.The Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers 123-109 in the final. He had 24 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists and was named tournament MVP.
Source 29 · ESPN · Lakers win in-season tournament final behind Anthony Davis’ 41-20 · opens in a new tabHe reached the mark on a spinning layup 81 seconds into the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets.
Source 30 · Los Angeles Times · LeBron James becomes first NBA player to score 40,000 points · opens in a new tabThe U.S. won its fifth straight gold medal, his third. He averaged 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists and was named tournament MVP.
Source 31 · FIBA · LeBron James MVP of the Paris 2024 headlines the All-Star Five · opens in a new tabHe became the first player to appear in 23 consecutive seasons, scoring 11 points with 12 assists in a 140-126 win over the Utah Jazz.
Source 32 · BBC Sport · James breaks NBA record with first game of season · opens in a new tab BBC Sport’s article is dated Nov. 19 and says Tuesday.His 15,838th career field goal, against the Denver Nuggets, passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most in NBA history.
Source 33 · ESPN · LeBron James passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for NBA field goal record · opens in a new tabHe announced the move on social media, beginning a record 24th NBA season.
Source 34 · The New York Times · LeBron James signing with Philadelphia 76ers, marking his record 24th season · opens in a new tab The Athletic’s URL is dated July 24; its article says he announced it on Friday.END OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2002–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
What did they do, and at what age?
AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
Debut and breakthrough are marked separately, and every record has a source.
Sports · United States
Dec 30, 1984
Ages are counted from the birth year 1984: the year of the event minus 1984, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.10.23 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.