LeBron James has been named TIME’s “Athlete of the Century” and appears on the cover of the publication’s inaugural list recognizing the 100 Most Influential People in Sports.
According to TIME, the distinction reflects James’ impact far beyond basketball. In addition to becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time champion, he has built a global business empire, championed social causes, and invested heavily in education and philanthropy through initiatives such as the I PROMISE School.
In the accompanying profile, James reflected on his place in basketball history and the ongoing debate about who deserves the title of greatest player of all time.
“I’m not taking nobody over me,” he said when asked about the GOAT conversation.
While questions about his future in the NBA continue to swirl, James admitted that family is playing a bigger role in how he thinks about the next chapter of his life.
“I’ve spent a lot of time sacrificing,” James told TIME. “I spent a lot of time putting in the work of my own individual craft, and I’ve had to give up a lot of family time.”
The father of three said he looks forward to dedicating more time to his wife, Savannah James, and their children, Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri whenever his playing career comes to an end.
“So a big part of the next 10 years won’t be me getting it back, because you can’t get time back,” he explained. “But my daughter is 11 years old. I’m going to pour into her. I’m going to pour into my wife. Because I wanted to be the greatest that ever played this game, I’ve had to not be the complete husband and complete dad that I want to be.”
One family milestone, however, already stands above everything else he has accomplished on the court.
In 2024, James and his eldest son, Bronny James, made NBA history as the league’s first father-son duo to play together and record assists to one another during a game.
“Out of all the sh-t I’ve done in basketball,” James said, “that’s the best accomplishment I’ve ever had.”
James also addressed criticism surrounding Bronny’s path to the NBA, making it clear that he will always defend his children.
“The kid has earned his right to be a professional athlete,” he said. “The thing you’re not going to do is throw stones at us as a family. I’m not letting that sh-t slide, because I know what I’ve created because of what I didn’t have. So if you want to talk about the kid, that he shouldn’t be an NBA player, I don’t care about that. As long as you don’t get to the fatherhood piece. I don’t play those games.”
