LeBron

When a new biography about basketball megastar LeBron James takes 250-ish pages just to get our hero to the NBA, you know the writer has a different kind of story in mind. That's where prolific author Jeff Benedict (Tiger, The Dynasty, etc.) thrives as a storyteller. Taking us well beyond the glittering court where championships and scoring records were won, LeBron is a portrait of not just overcoming the odds, but impacting culture in various ways. The polished product dubbed “King James” by the sports media has certainly lived up to the fanfare. With a business empire that encompasses Hollywood films, television shows, and jaw-dropping endorsements, LeBron knows how to attract and move his 100+ million social media followers. Like any great story, however, it’s never been a straight line to the top. All the more reason to appreciate Benedict’s carefully constructed telling of LeBron’s early life, which so easily could have—and probably should have—derailed at various stages of his upbringing. Born to a sixteen-year-old mother, he grew up in the public housing projects of Akron, Ohio with no father and no money. How a frightened and lonely young boy gradually evolves into a high school player courted by the NBA is a thrilling white-knuckle ride of its own. Though we know how LeBron’s professional career plays out, the ongoing arc of his personal purpose shines even brighter. Transformed via his journey, he is now a powerful voice for social activism and visionary philanthropy. Benedict proves his chops yet again, though LeBron’s full story is far from over. — Mike Denison (LeBron is available April 11, 2023.)