LeBron James said the example he sets in his marriage is one of the most important lessons he passes on to his daughter as the Los Angeles Lakers held their annual “girl dad” celebration during a win over the Chicago Bulls on March 12.
Following the Lakers’ 142–130 victory, James spoke with reporters about raising his 11-year-old daughter, Zhuri Nova James, and how his relationship with his wife, Savannah James, shapes the values she learns at home.
When asked about the most important lesson he believes he has taught Zhuri, James pointed to the way he treats his wife and other women in their family.
The 41-year-old said, “The way I treat her mother. The love that I have inside the family, the accountability that I have inside the family, the way I think I treat her mom and her grandmothers, my mom and my mother-in-law, and her siblings.”
James said that the behavior children witness at home often plays a major role in shaping who they become later in life. “I think a lot of habits that kids have come from their households. A lot of love comes from their households. A lot of things that they can take with them as they get older, and whatever the case may be, they learn in their households.”
The four-time NBA champion and father of three added that he and Savannah see their children’s behavior as a reflection of the values taught at home. Their sons include Bronny James, who currently plays alongside his father with the Lakers, and Bryce James.
James said the praise they receive about their children’s character stands out the most. “One of the best compliments,” he and Savannah receive from other parents, he said, is when people describe their kids as “so well-mannered” and “great kids.”
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He credited that to the example Zhuri Nova James sees at home. “That’s the greatest compliment we can get, and I just think the love that, my daughter (sees) how I treat her mom, and like I said, how I treat her grandmothers and how I treat the household.”
James also shared that becoming a father to a daughter changed him emotionally. “Yeah, I love girl dads. It’s pretty cool, and I’m happy to be one,” he said, adding that fatherhood with Zhuri “definitely softened me up a lot for sure.”
Lakers Host Annual Girl Dad Celebration During Bulls Game
The Lakers introduced their Girl Dad initiative in 2024 and hold the event each March during Women’s History Month to recognize fathers who support their daughters in sports.
The celebration during Thursday’s game also highlighted other Lakers players who are fathers to daughters, including Luka Dončić, and paid tribute to the late Kobe Bryant, whose close relationship with his daughters became widely recognized during his career.
Events throughout the night at Crypto.com Arena featured family-themed performances and tributes. Father-daughter vocal duo Matt and Savanna performed the national anthem before tip-off, and at halftime, members of the Laker Girls dance team performed alongside their fathers.
One dancer, Jenna, said the moment reflected years of support from her father, Randy, who joined her for the routine. She credited him for being her “number one cheerleader” and said he never missed her competitions, including events that lasted up to 12 hours.
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The annual initiative focuses on celebrating girls in athletics while recognizing the role fathers play in encouraging their daughters to pursue their goals.
