LeBron James Responds to Retirement Rumors Amidst Surprise ESPY Award Presentation by His Family

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: (L-R) LeBron James, winner of Best Record-Breaking Performance, Bryce James, Zhuri James, Savannah James, and Bronny James attend The 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by K

LeBron James’s entire family dazzled together at the 2023 ESPYs. The basketball star’s wife, Savannah James, and three kids — LeBron “Bronny” James Jr. (18), Bryce Maximus James (16), and Zhuri Nova James (8) — all stepped out for a glamorous night at the annual sports award show in Los Angeles on July 12 to present their patriarch with an award for becoming the NBA’s all-time scoring leader this year.

Savannah, who has been married to LeBron since 2013, doesn’t often speak on LeBron publicly, but she said the ESPYs were an exception while presenting her husband with his award. “As the ESPYs honor LeBron for breaking the NBA’s all-time scoring record, I wanted to tell you what I think. I think LeBron James is the baddest moth—” she began before Zhuri stopped her, jokingly, from swearing on TV.

Today is not that day': LeBron rejects retirement thoughts during ESPY speech

“I think LeBron James is the baddest to ever step foot on a basketball court,” she continued. “Nobody works harder. Nobody cares more. And nobody has done more for the game of basketball than LeBron James. Yes, he’s a great father and husband. His work in our community and willingness to fight injustice is immeasurable. But that’s not what tonight is about. Tonight is about LeBron James, the legend, the king, and yes, the GOAT.”

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 12: (L-R) LeBron James, winner of Best Record-Breaking Performance, Bronny James, Bryce James, Savannah James and Zhuri James speak onstage during The 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California
Getty | Kevin Mazur

“The day I can’t give everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done.”

After kissing and thanking his “amazing and beautiful wife” for all she does for their family, LeBron addressed the audience in attendance and everyone watching at home. “I love this game. I love the game of basketball,” he said. “In my 20 years playing this game and in all the years before, I’ve never ever cheated a game, and I would never take it for granted,” he said. “Anytime I step foot on the floor — either coaching my boys or playing — I’m gonna give it everything. I do it for myself, for some of my teammates…all the greats that came before me, and most importantly, I do it for the fans. The lovers of the game. You can love me, and I know some of you hate me as well, but the one thing you will always do is respect me and appreciate the way I approach the game and what I’ve given to this game.”

LeBron James Announces He's Not Retiring During 2023 ESPY Awards Honor: 'I Still Got Something Left' | Entertainment Tonight

LeBron then addressed the rumblings from fans and sports critics that he’s considering retiring. “When the season ended, I said I wasn’t sure if I was gonna keep playing,” he said. “I’m here now speaking for myself. In that moment, I’m asking myself if I can still play without cheating the game. Can I give everything to the game still? Truth is, I’ve been asking myself this at the end of the season for a couple of years now.… The day I can’t give everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done.” After a long pause, he added, “Lucky for you guys, that day is not today,” confirming he will go on to play another basketball season.

LeBron James announces he will return this fall for his 21st NBA season | CNN

LeBron and Savannah’s decades-long romance tells a pretty sweet story about the high school sweethearts. The couple and their three kids continuously support one another through all aspects of their lives. Whether Savannah is cheering on her NBA star husband from the sidelines with their children, or the latter is praising his wife online, the two always show up for each other.

In a May profile with The Cut, Savannah shared that she never anticipated her husband would become one of the biggest basketball stars ever. “Everything was definitely in the moment,” she explained. “We were two kids who started dating, as any two high-school kids would. Believe it or not, I didn’t know that he was going to be what he is today.”

Lakers' LeBron James confirms return for 21st NBA season - ESPN

For LeBron’s part, he told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018, “Savannah was with me shooting in the gym when I [had] absolutely nothing.” He continued, “She was down when I was at my high school, no cameras, no lights. And she was there with me. You wouldn’t be talking to me right now if it weren’t for her.” In September 2022, the married couple celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary.

Related Posts

Selena Gomez looks white hot in glamorous cut-out gown at Met Gala

She’s one of the latest celebrities to be victimized by body-shaming online trolls. But Selena Gomez brushed off the haters as she attended the 2015 Met Gala in New York…

Read more

Selena Gomez flashes a lot of flesh in tiny hotpants and bra on stage in Texas

It seems pop princess Selena Gomez’s outfits are just getting smaller and smaller. The 21-year-old singer took to the stage at the KISS FM Jingle Ball in a teeny tiny…

Read more

Selena Gomez is a class act in white hotpants and knee length boots

She very nearly stole the show on the red carpet at last night’s Teen Choice Awards, arriving to the red carpet in a stunning hot pink minidress. And today, Selena…

Read more

Lil Wayne talked about loving his children unequally, so who does he love the most in the family?

It is difficult to say for sure whether Lil Wayne loves his children equally or not. His relationship with his children is a complex and personal matter, and only he…

Read more

Lil Wayne shares that the most valuable thing in life is not when he stands on stage but when his children call ‘daddy’ and listen to their stories about life

Lil Wayne shares that the most valuable thing in life is not when he stands on stage but when his children call ‘daddy’ and listen to their stories about life…

Read more

Lil Wayne gave a practical birthday gift with thanks to Birdman: ‘Grateful to my adoptive dad for appearing in my life’

On Tuesday, September 27, Cash Mon ey CEO managed to wish the New Orleans rapper a happy birthday despite the continuing legal dispute between Lil Wayne and Birdman. Lil Wayne,…

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *