What city was LeBron James born in?

LeBron James was born in Akron, Ohio.

He was born on December 30, 1984, at Saint Vincent–Saint Mary High School’s hometown hospital in Akron and grew up in the area. His childhood in northeast Ohio became a central part of his public identity, leading to the nickname “The Kid from Akron.”

Akron is in Summit County, roughly 40 miles south of Cleveland. That location can cause a common mix-up: Cleveland became closely associated with James because he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers during two periods and won the franchise’s first NBA championship in 2016. However, Cleveland is not his birthplace.

James later returned to Ohio basketball prominence at St. Vincent–Saint Mary High School before entering the NBA as the first overall pick in the 2003 draft. He began his professional career with Cleveland, but his origin story remains tied to Akron.