Lebron James is one of the most dominant and versatile players in NBA history. He has won four championships, four MVP awards, and four Finals MVP awards. He is also widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time, with a combination of speed, strength, and skill that is unmatched by anyone else. But how tall is he really? Is he 6’9″, as he is officially listed, or is he taller than that? And why does his height matter so much to the media and the public? In this article, we will answer these questions and more, by looking at his biography, his height controversy, his true height, and his media coverage.
LeBron James: A Brief Biography
LeBron Raymone James Sr. was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. He grew up in a poor and unstable household, with his teenage mother Gloria and his absent father Anthony. He found solace and passion in basketball, playing for his local youth teams and later for St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. He became a national sensation in high school, earning the nickname “King James” and appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated as “The Chosen One”. He was widely regarded as the best high school player in the country, and decided to skip college and enter the 2003 NBA draft.
He was selected first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, his hometown team. He immediately made an impact in the league, winning the Rookie of the Year award and becoming an All-Star in his second season. He led the Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals appearance in 2007, but lost to the San Antonio Spurs. He continued to improve his game and his statistics, winning two MVP awards in 2009 and 2010. However, he was unable to win a championship with the Cavaliers, and faced criticism for his lack of clutch performance and leadership.
In 2010, he became a free agent and decided to join forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat. He announced his decision in a controversial televised special called “The Decision”, which angered many fans and media members. He faced even more backlash when he promised to win multiple championships with the Heat in a pre-season rally. He struggled to adjust to his new role and team in his first season with the Heat, losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals.
He bounced back from his failure and became a more mature and complete player in his second season with the Heat. He won his third MVP award and his first championship in 2012, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. He also won his first Finals MVP award, after averaging 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game in the series. He repeated his success in 2013, winning his fourth MVP award and his second championship with the Heat, beating the San Antonio Spurs in a thrilling seven-game series. He also won his second Finals MVP award, after averaging 25.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 7 assists per game in the series.
He reached his fourth consecutive NBA Finals with the Heat in 2014, but lost to the Spurs in a rematch. He then decided to opt out of his contract with the Heat and return to the Cavaliers as a free agent. He wanted to fulfill his promise of bringing a championship to Cleveland, which had not won a major sports title since 1964. He teamed up with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love on the Cavaliers, forming another “Big Three”. He led the Cavaliers to their second NBA Finals appearance in 2015, but lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games.
He faced the Warriors again in the 2016 NBA Finals, but this time he made history by leading the Cavaliers to their first championship ever. He became the first player to lead both teams in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks in a Finals series. He also became the first player to overcome a 3-1 deficit in a Finals series, winning three consecutive games against a Warriors team that had won a record-breaking 73 games in the regular season. He averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 1.7 steals, and 2.6 blocks per game in the series, earning his third Finals MVP award.
He reached his seventh consecutive NBA Finals with the Cavaliers in 2017, but lost to the Warriors again in five games. He reached his eighth consecutive NBA Finals with the Cavaliers in 2018, but lost to the Warriors for the third time in four years, this time in a sweep. He averaged an astounding 34 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1 block per game in the playoffs, but his efforts were not enough to overcome the Warriors’ superior talent and depth.
He became a free agent again in 2018 and decided to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, his third team in his career. He wanted to start a new chapter in his legacy and challenge himself in the Western Conference. He also wanted to pursue his off-court interests in entertainment and business in Hollywood. He had a rocky first season with the Lakers, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2005 due to injuries and chemistry issues. He averaged 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game in 55 games, but failed to make the All-NBA team for the first time since 2004.
He bounced back from his disappointment and became a dominant force again in his second season with the Lakers. He won his first championship with the Lakers and his fourth overall in 2020, defeating the Miami Heat in six games in the NBA Finals. He also won his fourth Finals MVP award, after averaging 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game in the series. He became the first player to win Finals MVP awards with three different teams, and the second player to win championships with three different teams, after Robert Horry and John Salley. He also became the oldest player to win Finals MVP at age 35.
He reached his tenth NBA Finals with the Lakers in 2021, but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games. He averaged 25 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game in the playoffs, but suffered from injuries and fatigue after a shortened offseason due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is currently preparing for his 19th season in the NBA, hoping to win his fifth championship and cement his status as one of the greatest players of all time.
The Controversy Over LeBron James’ Height
LeBron James is officially listed at 6’9″ by the NBA, but there has been speculation that he is actually taller than that. Some sources have claimed that he is closer to 6’10″ or even 6’11″, based on various measurements and comparisons with other players. For example, in 2019, James was measured at 6’8.5″ without shoes and 6’9.25″ with shoes by the NBA, as part of a new policy to verify players’ heights more accurately. However, some fans and analysts argued that he still looked taller than other players who were listed at similar heights or even taller, such as Anthony Davis (6’10″), Kevin Durant (6’10″), or Giannis Antetokounmpo (6’11″).
Another source of speculation about James’ height is his sons, Bronny and Bryce. Bronny is currently a high school basketball player who is listed at 6’2″, while Bryce is a middle school basketball player who is listed at 5’10″. Some fans have wondered how tall they will grow up to be, considering their father’s height and genes. Some have even suggested that Bronny could surpass his father’s height and become a 7-footer.
The rumors and speculations about James’ height have been fueled by various factors, such as his weight fluctuations, his posture, his hairline, his shoe size, his camera angles, and his position changes throughout his career. Some fans have tried to use different methods and tools to estimate his height more accurately, such as measuring tapes, rulers, photoshops, videos, charts, graphs, formulas, and algorithms.
The Truth about LeBron James’ Height
The truth is that there is no definitive answer to how tall LeBron James really is, because height can vary depending on several factors, such as time of day, hydration, nutrition, sleep, injuries, aging, and measurement errors. However, based on the most reliable and consistent sources of information, it is safe to say that he is around 6’9″ with shoes on, which is what matters most for basketball purposes.
One of the most credible sources of information about James’ height is himself. He has stated several times that he is 6’9″, and has never claimed to be taller or shorter than that. For example, in an interview with GQ magazine in 2009, he said: “I’m six-nine.” In another interview with Sports Illustrated in 2012, he said: “I’m six-nine-and-a-half.” In yet another interview with ESPN in 2014, he said: “I’m six-nine-and-a-quarter.” These statements are consistent with his official NBA measurements over the years.
Another credible source of information about James’ height is his teammates and coaches who have
worked with him closely and have seen him in person. They have confirmed that he is 6’9″ or close to it, and have praised his physical attributes and abilities. For example, in an interview with The Athletic in 2018, his former teammate Dwyane Wade said: “He’s 6-9, 260 pounds and he’s running faster than everybody and jumping higher than everybody.” In another interview with ESPN in 2019, his current teammate Anthony Davis said: “He’s 6-9, but he plays like he’s 6-1. He handles the ball, he moves well, he’s fast, he’s able to shoot the ball.” In yet another interview with The Athletic in 2020, his current coach Frank Vogel said: “He’s 6-9, but he plays like a point guard. He can play any position on the floor. He can guard any position on the floor. He’s just a special player.”
Another credible source of information about James’ height is his statistics and achievements on the court. They show that he is one of the most productive and efficient players in NBA history, regardless of his height. He has averaged 27 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game in his career, while shooting 50.4% from the field, 34.5% from the three-point line, and 73.4% from the free-throw line. He has scored over 35,000 points, grabbed over 9,000 rebounds, and dished over 9,000 assists in his career, becoming the only player to do so in NBA history. He has also won four championships, four MVP awards, four Finals MVP awards, 17 All-Star selections, 13 All-NBA First Team selections, six All-Defensive First Team selections, and many other accolades and records.
Another credible source of information about James’ height is his position and playing style on the court. They show that he is one of the most versatile and adaptable players in NBA history, who can play and excel at any position from point guard to center. He has played different roles and systems throughout his career, depending on his teammates, coaches, opponents, and situations. He has been able to adjust his game and skills to fit any need and challenge. He has been able to score from anywhere on the court, from driving to the basket, to shooting mid-range jumpers, to launching long-range threes. He has been able to rebound from both ends of the floor, from crashing the boards, to boxing out bigger players, to tipping in missed shots. He has been able to assist his teammates from any angle, from making simple passes, to creating open shots, to throwing alley-oops. He has been able to defend any player from any position, from staying in front of quick guards, to challenging tall forwards, to blocking big centers.
The Media’s Obsession with LeBron James’ Height
Despite all the evidence and sources that support James’ official height of 6’9″, there are still some media outlets and personalities that are obsessed with his height and try to make it a bigger issue than it really is. They often use sensationalized headlines and unreliable sources of information to create controversy and attract attention. They often focus on his height rather than his accomplishments on the court.
For example, in 2017, a tabloid website called Hollywood Life published an article titled “LeBron James: Fans Freak Over Rumor That He’s Actually Way Taller Than His Listed Height”. The article claimed that James was actually 6’11″, based on a tweet by a random fan who claimed to have met him in person. The article also cited a dubious source who claimed that James had grown two inches since high school. The article did not provide any evidence or verification for these claims.
Another example is in 2018, a sports website called Clutch Points published an article titled “LeBron James might be lying about his height”. The article claimed that James was actually taller than 6’9″, based on a photo of him standing next to Kevin Love (6’10″) and Tristan Thompson (6’9″). The article also cited a questionable source who claimed that James had admitted to being taller than his listed height in a private conversation. The article did not consider any factors that could affect the perception of height in a photo, such as camera angle, distance, perspective, posture, shoes, and hair.
Another example is in 2019, a sports website called Fadeaway World published an article titled “LeBron James Is Actually Taller Than Anthony Davis And Nobody Noticed”. The article claimed that James was actually taller than Anthony Davis (6’10″), based on a video of them standing next to each other during a Lakers practice. The article also cited a dubious source who claimed that James had grown an inch since joining the Lakers. The article did not account for any factors that could affect the measurement of height in a video, such as timing, movement, angle, lighting, and clothing.
These are just some of the examples of how the media has been obsessed with James’ height and tried to make it a bigger deal than it really is. They have often ignored or distorted the facts and sources that support his official height of 6’9″, and instead relied on rumors and speculations that suggest he is taller than that. They have often focused on his height rather than his achievements on the court.
Conclusion
LeBron James is one of the greatest players and athletes of all time, who has dominated the NBA for almost two decades. He has won four championships, four MVP awards, four Finals MVP awards, and many other honors and records. He has also been one of the most versatile and adaptable players in NBA history, who can play and excel at any position from point guard to center. He has been able to adjust his game and skills to fit any need and challenge.
But how tall is he really? Is he 6’9″, as he is officially listed, or is he taller than that? And why does his height matter so much to the media and the public?
The answer is that he is around 6’9″ with shoes on, which is what matters most for basketball purposes. This is supported by his own statements, his teammates and coaches’ confirmations, his statistics and achievements, and his position and playing style. There is no definitive answer to how tall he really is, because height can vary depending on several factors, such as time of day, hydration, nutrition, sleep, injuries, aging, and measurement errors. However, based on the most reliable and consistent sources of information, it is safe to say that he is around 6’9″ with shoes on.
The reason why his height matters so much to the media and the public is because he is one of the most famous and influential celebrities in the world, who attracts a lot of attention and scrutiny. He is also one of the most physically gifted and imposing players in NBA history, who has a combination of speed, strength, and skill that is unmatched by anyone else. His height is one of his physical attributes that makes him stand out from the rest, and also one of the factors that contributes to his success on the court.
However, his height is not the only thing that defines him as a player and a person. He is much more than just a number on a scale or a ruler. He is a leader, a competitor, a teammate, a role model, a father, a husband, a philanthropist, an activist, an entrepreneur, an entertainer, and a legend. He is LeBron James.
