Savannah James, the wife of NBA superstar LeBron James, has been a constant source of support and inspiration for her husband throughout his career. While she may not always seek the spotlight, Savannah has been making a name for herself in her own right with her personal business ventures and her passion for giving back to young people.
A High School Sweetheart
Savannah and LeBron met as teenagers in Akron, Ohio, where they both grew up. In an interview with Cleveland Magazine, Savannah recalled that she first met LeBron when she was a 16-year-old high school sophomore, and he was a year older and attended a rival school.
She remembered that he’d asked a friend for her phone number, but she decided to take his number instead. “One day I’m sitting around — I was probably bored or something — and I’m like, ‘Oh, I forgot! I have this number for this guy that I can call. He seemed interested, so let’s see,'” she said.
LeBron invited her to one of his basketball games, and the pair linked up with friends to go to Applebee’s afterward. Their first solo date, at Outback Steakhouse, came a few weeks later. Savannah knew it was love pretty quickly, telling Harper’s Bazaar in 2010: “I knew he loved me when I left my leftovers from dinner in his car.
I’d totally forgotten about them, and he brought them to me. I think he just wanted another excuse to come and see me.”
A Family-Oriented Woman
Savannah is the youngest of five children, and her parents instilled a spirit of generosity and kindness in their children. She told Cleveland Magazine that her mom, Jennifer, and dad, JK, always had an open-door policy with their children’s friends.
“If they had something going on at home, or they just needed a safe haven, my mom and dad always opened up their doors,” she shared.
Though she’s now part of a power couple, Savannah told Harper’s Bazaar that she finds fame “kind of weird.” She said, “I’ve always been in the background. Now that magazines and the paparazzi are taking pictures of me, it’s kind of weird. I never thought it would get to this magnitude, but clearly I was mistaken.”
She echoed those sentiments to Cleveland Magazine, adding, “When you want me to be on a TV show or walk the red carpet or something, I definitely get a little bit clammy. That’s a bit out of my comfort zone.”
A Devoted Mother
Savannah shares three children with LeBron: LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., Bryce Maximus, and Zhuri Nova. During Savannah’s senior year — and LeBron’s rookie year in the NBA — the couple had an unplanned pregnancy with their first child, Bronny, who was born on October 6, 2004.
Of the experience, she told Harper’s Bazaar, “I was thinking, ‘What am I going to tell my parents? What’s going to happen to his career?’ I was very scared. I was bawling. But [LeBron] said, ‘It’s not going to slow me down, and it’s not going to slow you down. We’re going to keep doing what we have to do.'”
A Supportive Partner
LeBron has praised Savannah multiple times over the years, both in interviews and on social media. As he told Harper’s Bazaar in 2010: “A person like myself always needs a great sidekick and a person you can rely on no matter the circumstances. And she’s that. She’s got my back and I love her for that.”
In September 2022, LeBron celebrated nine years of his supportive marriage by sharing a glamorous photo of himself and Savannah from a Vanity Fair shoot. He captioned the Instagram Story, “Queen,” and added, “P.S. YOU SO DAMN SEXY! WOW,” along with heart and drooling face emojis.
While the family was in Miami during LeBron’s tenure with the Miami Heat, Savannah ran The Juice Spot, a juicery in the Brickell neighborhood, which she closed after two years when the family moved back to Cleveland. Together, the couple also launched their own furniture line with American Signature called Home Court by LeBron James.
A Podcast Host
Savannah and her longtime friend April McDaniel launched the podcast Everybody’s Crazy on April 30, 2024. Together, they field calls from fans and offer advice about “crazy” situations. “It’s freeing because it allows me to show a side of my personality,” the mom of three told PEOPLE.
“We are both very private and I’ve been very private and kind of played the background this far in my husband’s career. But I am excited to venture off into new things, we’re going into new phases of our lives.”
FAQs
How did Savannah and LeBron meet?
Savannah and LeBron met as teenagers in Akron, Ohio, where they both grew up. LeBron asked a friend for her phone number, but she decided to take his number instead.
How many children do Savannah and LeBron have?
Savannah and LeBron have three children: LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., Bryce Maximus, and Zhuri Nova.
What is Savannah’s podcast?
Savannah’s podcast is called Everybody’s Crazy, which she hosts with her longtime friend April McDaniel.
