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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center on March 19, 2026 in Miami, Florida.

Veteran Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has revealed the origins of his unique name.

“It was my grandfather’s best friend’s name and my mom loved it. That’s the story,” James told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

“I have not done the background research or looked into the origin. I am leaving a lot of stuff for when I retire, to start digging into it, to find out where a lot of s— comes from in my whole family origin. … That’s all I know about it.”

In previous interviews, Gloria James has said she wanted her son to have a name “that would stand out” as she knew “he would stand out” from others around him.

LeBron James ‘Loved’ His Name

What did James think of his name before becoming famous?

“I never heard it growing up,” James responded as part of a 23-question ESPN interview to commemorate his record-breaking 23rd NBA season.

“Now there are, I think, a couple baseball players, where I have seen the name come across. But I had never heard the name. Ever.”

James admittedly “loved” his peculiar name while growing up, but often had to correct his friends on its exact pronunciation.

“Yeah, I loved it,” he said of his name.

“But people would mess it up. Lee-Bron. LeBryan, I’ve heard a lot — I don’t know how the hell you say ‘LeBryan’ off LeBron. But I have never not liked my name. I thought it was so unique and so different.”

LeBron James on His Favorite Movie

As part of the extensive interview, James explained why “The Godfather” remains his all-time favorite movie.

“One, I love mob movies,” James said.

“I’m a big-time mob movie guy. There’s a few of them that I’m in love with. But also, I don’t think people talk about the level of family and what you would do for your family.

“That movie obviously is told as a mob movie, that’s the scene behind it, but the dynamics of good, bad that you have to deal with in your family and protecting your family; interaction with your family; how your family is raised; disappointment in your family, at times.

“There’s so many gems in that movie and I pick up one every single time I watch the movie. I’ve watched it dozens of times, dozens. My first time watching it, I was maybe 17, 18. High school.

“As I watched it as I got older, I found parallels to my life in the fact that I happen to be the head honcho of a family and everything that comes with that. And it’s a lot. It’s hard. It’s hard when everybody is expecting or wanting. You have to be everything for the family. It’s a lot of pressure that comes with that. So, I found parallels to that. I have the book. I own a beautiful jukebox where you turn the reel and it plays the theme song of “The Godfather.” I love it.”