SAVANNAH JAMES OPENS UP ABOUT DATING LIFE BEFORE LEBRON: “I HAD ALL THE BOYFRIENDS”
Savannah James has long been admired as the partner of NBA legend LeBron James, but before their love story began, her teenage dating life was far from perfect. On her “Everybody’s Crazy” podcast, she reflected candidly on those early years, revealing how at 14 she had multiple boyfriends and was still figuring out what love really meant.
“Can’t relate. I wasn’t in love at 14. I had all the boyfriends at 14. I had boyfriends and I also had boyfriends that they was friends, but I dated one at one time. It was raggedy and janky, it’s okay. I was 14, I didn’t matter. I was 14, I was learning myself,” Savannah shared, highlighting the reality of adolescence and self-discovery.
Everything changed when she met LeBron James through mutual friends at 16. At the time, Savannah was a high school sophomore at Buchtel High School, while LeBron, a year older, was already a standout player at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. Their first encounters included attending a basketball game together, casual hangouts with friends at a local Applebee’s, and their very first date at Outback Steakhouse.
Savannah recalled the moment she realized LeBron’s intentions were genuine: “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,” she told Harper’s Bazaar in 2010.
Since that first date, Savannah and LeBron have built a partnership that has withstood the pressures of fame, family, and professional achievement. From LeBron’s high school stardom to his rise as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Savannah has been by his side, navigating the highs and lows with him and raising their three children together.
Their story is a testament to young love evolving into a lifelong partnership, demonstrating patience, trust, and shared growth. Savannah’s candid reflection on her teenage dating years shows how far she has come—and how their love story has stood the test of time.
