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August 28, 2024

LeBron James is a dad of 3: What to know about his kids

WATCH: LA Lakers draft Bronny James

LeBron James might be the NBA's leading scorer of all time but when he's not on the court, the basketball great and Los Angeles Lakers forward is also a proud father of three children, whom he shares with his wife Savannah James.

LeBron James' family cheered him on as the U.S. men's basketball team won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

When Team USA won gold, the Lakers star celebrated with his eldest son, Bronny James, who was selected by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft.

PHOTO: LeBron James of the U.S. high fives his son and Bronny James after defeating France in the men's gold medal basketball game at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Aug. 10, 2024.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
LeBron James of the U.S. high fives his son and Bronny James after defeating France in the men's gold medal basketball game at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Aug. 10, 2024.

Throughout the Olympics in Paris, LeBron James was spotted alongside his wife and daughter, Zhuri, watching other athletes compete.

PHOTO: LeBron James of the U.S. sits with his daughter, Zhuri Nova James and wife Savannah James while watching the women's gold medal game, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Aug. 11, 2024.
Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
LeBron James of the U.S. sits with his daughter, Zhuri Nova James and wife Savannah James while watching the women's gold medal game, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Aug. 11, 2024.

On July 26, LeBron James carried the flag for Team USA, alongside tennis star Coco Gauff, in the Games' Opening Ceremony.

PHOTO: U.S.A. flag bearers Coco Gauff and Lebron James are seen at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics, July 26, 2024, in Paris.
Sina Schuldt/Picture Alliance via Getty Images
U.S.A. flag bearers Coco Gauff and Lebron James are seen at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics, July 26, 2024, in Paris.

The Akron, Ohio, native has said he takes fatherhood seriously, having grown up without his own dad being present in his life, and prioritizes being present with his kids.

And although two of his kids – both of his sons – have followed him onto the basketball court, the elder James said he doesn't pressure them to play the team sport.

PHOTO: LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half at Moda Center, Jan. 22, 2023, in Portland.
Steph Chambers/Getty Images
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half at Moda Center, Jan. 22, 2023, in Portland.

"I've always let them just see if they had a love for [basketball]. Because, at the end of the day, nothing is going to come to fruition if you're just doing it because you feel like it's what your parents are doing. Nah, it's going to fizzle out too fast," LeBron James told "Sports Illustrated" in a 2022 cover interview with his sons.

When asked about the pressure he feels following his dad's legendary footsteps into professional basketball, Bronny James said his decision to join the NBA draft wasn't heavily influenced by what his dad does.

"I just want to come in and get my work in and get better every day. I never really had a thought of me going to play with my dad. But that’s always there to take part of, but it wasn’t a main focus of mine," Bronny James said in a July 2 press conference.

PHOTO: Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James pats the back of USC Trojans guard Bronny James before the game against the Long Beach State 49ers in Los Angeles Dec. 10, 2023.
Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James pats the back of USC Trojans guard Bronny James before the game against the Long Beach State 49ers in Los Angeles Dec. 10, 2023.

Get to know the James family below.

Savannah James

PHOTO: Savannah James and NBA player LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attend a game between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces, June 15, 2024, in Las Vegas.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Savannah James and NBA player LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attend a game between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces, June 15, 2024, in Las Vegas.

LeBron James and Savannah James first met and started dating as teenagers in Akron, when he was a St. Vincent-St. Mary High School basketball star and she was a softball player for Buchtel High School.

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The couple welcomed their first child in 2004 and their second in 2007 before they married in 2013. Their third child, their only daughter, was born in 2014.

PHOTO: Bronny James, LeBron James, Zhuri James, and Bryce James attend the 2023 ESPY Awards, July 12, 2023, in Hollywood, Calif.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Bronny James, LeBron James, Zhuri James, and Bryce James attend the 2023 ESPY Awards, July 12, 2023, in Hollywood, Calif.

Bronny James

PHOTO: Bronny James of the USC Trojans handles the ball in the first half of a first-round game against the Washington Huskies during the Pac-12 Conference basketball tournament. Mar. 13, 2024, in Las Vegas.
David Becker/Getty Images
Bronny James of the USC Trojans handles the ball in the first half of a first-round game against the Washington Huskies during the Pac-12 Conference basketball tournament. Mar. 13, 2024, in Las Vegas.

The James' eldest child, LeBron Raymone "Bronny" James Jr., is named after his famous father. In an episode of the talk show "The Shop: Uninterrupted," the Lakers star revealed it was his son who changed his first name to Bronny and is determined to make a name for himself.

After Bronny James was selected by the Lakers on June 27 in the second round of the NBA draft, the two James men could make history as the first father-son duo to compete in the NBA together.

In an August 2024 episode of Uninterrupted's "The Shop," LeBron James said he won't be known as "dad" on the basketball court.

"[He] cannot call me dad in the workplace," LeBron James said, according to ESPN. "He got to call me like '2-3' or 'Bron' or, you know, 'GOAT' if he want to. It's up to him. We cannot be running down the court, and he'd be like, 'Dad, push the ball up! Dad, I'm open! Dad, come on!'"

The NBA star continued, "Once we leave out the private facility and the gates close, I could be dad again [and] in the car if we ride together, at home I could be dad."

Bronny James selected by Los Angeles Lakers in 2nd round of NBA Draft

Bronny James wrapped his freshman season as a guard for the University of Southern California Trojans and according to his official college athletics biography, he also likes to play video games, go snowboarding and play the piano and violin, when he's not on the court.

In July 2023, Bronny James was hospitalized after suffering a cardiac arrest while at a USC basketball practice session. He was later discharged and a family spokesperson revealed the rising basketball star's health scare was likely due to a congenital heart defect.

Bryce James

PHOTO: Bryce James talks to his dad, LeBron James, after the Sierra Canyon vs King Drew boys' basketball game at Sierra Canyon High School, November 16, 2022, in Chatsworth, Calif.
Cassy Athena/Getty Images
Bryce James talks to his dad, LeBron James, after the Sierra Canyon vs King Drew boys' basketball game at Sierra Canyon High School, November 16, 2022, in Chatsworth, Calif.

Like his father and older brother before him, Bryce Maximus James, the second of the James kids, is a basketball player. The 11th grader currently plays for the boys' basketball team at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, California, the same team his brother Bronny played for and which their father sponsors.

In the 2022 "Sports Illustrated" interview, James expressed hope about playing professionally with both of his sons in the future.

"I feel like I could play for quite a while. So it's all up to my body, but more importantly, my mind," James said at the time. "If my mind can stay sharp and fresh and motivated, then the sky's not even a limit for me. I can go beyond that. But we shall see."

LeBron James talks possibility of playing with his sons in the NBA

Zhuri Nova James

PHOTO: LeBron James, Bryce James, Zhuri James, Savannah James, and Bronny James attend the 2023 ESPY Awards, July 12, 2023, in Hollywood, Calif.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
LeBron James, Bryce James, Zhuri James, Savannah James, and Bronny James attend the 2023 ESPY Awards, July 12, 2023, in Hollywood, Calif.

Zhuri is the youngest of the James children and was born in 2014.

James celebrated his daughter's birthday in an October tribute post, calling her his "princess."

"Happy Bday My Princess 👸🏾 Z!! Love you ♾️ and more!!!" the doting dad wrote in the caption.

Zhuri has her own YouTube channel with over 200,000 subscribers.