Birthday Celebration – Top 24 Moments of Lebron James’ Career

In celebration of LeBron James’ 24th birthday, NBA TV will televise “24 Hours of LeBron” presented by Nike, a full day of programming featuring live games, highlights, classic performances and new original specials focused on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ forward who turns 24 on Dec. 30. The “24 Hours of LeBron” tips off on NBA TV on Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. with the airing of James’ NBA debut, an Oct. 29, 2003 game against the Sacramento Kings. Throughout the day the network will televise various classic Cavaliers matchups featuring James, as well as his first nationally televised high school game. The schedule will also include several never-seen original features. With all that in mind, NBA.com’s Art Garcia takes a look back at the top 24 moments of LeBron’s career as James approaches his 24th birthday. Info via NBA.com.

• 1 – The 18-year-old from St. Vincent-St. Mary’s high school in Akron is selected with the first pick of the 2003 NBA Draft by Cleveland.
• 2 – Stands with the rest of the Redeem Team atop the Gold Medal stand at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. (James won a bronze medal with Team USA in 2004.)
• 3 – Cements his playoff legacy at the ripe age of 22 with 48 points in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons. James scored 29 of the Cavs last 30 points and all of the teams 25 points in overtime.
• 4 – Hosts the 33rd season premiere of Saturday Night Live in September 2007. Follows in the athletic footsteps of previous hosts Michael Jordan, Joe Montana and Peyton Manning.
• 5 – Records a triple-double (32 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds) in his playoff debut, a win over Washington on April 22, 2006. Joins Johnny McCarthy and Magic Johnson as the only players in league history with triple-doubles in their playoff debut.
• 6 – Gathers almost 20,000 people at the Quicken Loans Arena to watch Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s 30-minute “American Stories, American Solutions” television spot on October 29, 2008.
• 7 – On March 5, 2008, James scores 50 points with 8 rebounds and 10 assists against the New York Knicks, becoming only the third player since the ABA-NBA merger to record a 50-point, 10-assist game.
• 8 – Co-hosts the 2007 ESPY Awards along with comedian Jimmy Kimmel. James is also nominated for three ESPYs: Best Male Athlete, Best NBA Player (winner), and Best Record Breaking Performance.
• 9 – Shortly after a bid to suspend him for the rest of his senior season was dropped, LeBron torches Westchester of Los Angeles for a high school career-high 52 in an intersectional victory in front of a sellout crowd of 8,500.
• 10 – Scores an NBA career-high 56 points against Toronto on March 20, 2005. The Cavaliers, however, lose to the Raptors.
• 11 – Closes a Game 4 victory over Boston in the 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals with a monstrous dunk over a ducking Kevin Garnett.
• 12 – Becomes just the third man to appear on the cover of Vogue (posing with model Gisele Bndchen) in March 2008. The other two are Richard Gere and George Clooney.
• 13 – Puts the finishing touches on a dunkfest by channeling his inner Karl Malone with a behind-the-head one-handed number against the Raptors on Dec. 9, 2008.
• 14 – Opens the game against Toronto (Dec. 9, 2008) with two steals (and two dunks) in the first minute to pass Mark Price for the Cavs’ steals record.
• 15 – Scores on a tough layup in the lane on March 21, 2008 against the Raptors to pass Brad Daugherty as the Cavs’ all-time leading scorer.
• 16 – Becomes the youngest player in league history (19) to score 40 points in a game with 41 against New Jersey on March 27, 2004.
• 17 – On Feb. 3, 2005, he throws down a tomahawk jam on an airborne-then-ducking Damon Jones in Cleveland’s 100-88 loss to the Heat.
• 18 – Is tabbed the 2003-04 NBA Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Cavalier and youngest NBA player to ever receive the award.
• 19 – Posts his first career triple-double (27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists) on Jan. 19, 2005. Of course, is the youngest ever (20) to achieve the feat.
• 20 – Is named the MVP of the 2006 All-Star Game in Houston and at 21 is the youngest winner ever. (Won the All-Star MVP again in 2008.)
• 21 – Becomes the fastest and youngest player ever (23 years, 308 days/395 games) to reach the following milestones with his second steal against Dallas on Nov. 3, 2008: 10,000 points, 2,500 rebounds, 2,500 assists, 700 steals and 300 blocks.
• 22 – Stars in a series of Nike commercials culminating with the current Chalk ad that features the song “Candyman” and cameos from Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy as well as Cavs teammates Daniel Gibson, Anderson Varejao, J.J. Hickson and hip-hop artist Lil Wayne.
• 23 – Is named the High School Player of the Year by USA Today in 2002 and 2003, the first to win the award back-to-back.
• 24 – Is named Ohio Mr. Basketball after sophomore, junior and senior seasons (2001-03) in high school.