“In a perfect world, I would have loved to stay.” That’s how LeBron James described his connection to the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, he knew that staying with the same team would limit his growth, leading to the infamous ‘The Decision.’ James earned most of his rings with the Miami Heat and is beloved by Lakers fans. Cleveland was the place where he laid the foundation for a memorable professional career. As it turned out, being drafted by the North-Eastern Ohio franchise also benefitted the player’s personal life. It strengthened his relationship with Savannah by keeping him closer to home.

In the season finale of their ‘Everybody’s Crazy’ podcast, Savannah James and co-host April McDaniel talked about long-distance relationships. The conversation began after a caller wanted to discuss her dilemma regarding the issue. This led the 38-year-old to reveal that fate had been lucky for her. With both LeBron and Savannah hailing from Akron, Ohio, the fear of a long-distance arose once the player put his name forward for the 2003 NBA Draft. However, joining the Cavaliers as the first overall pick meant that LeBron would be 39.3 miles away from Savannah. This distance could easily be covered in under an hour. Savannah hinted that if things had been different, she wasn’t the only one who felt that their relationship might not have survived the strain of long-distance.

“I don’t know. If I had to ask him, if he was sitting here, and he wants so badly to come on this pod. I think that he would say the same, and I don’t know what would have happened,” said Savannah. “So, thanks Cleveland Cavaliers.” Savannah added: “We talked about this a lot. Yeah like so thanks guys, keeping my love around.”

LeBron and Savannah have been together since their high school days. At the time she was just 16, while LeBron, a year older, was already making waves as a basketball player. One of the earliest unexpected moments of their relationship came during LeBron’s rookie year. Savannah revealed that she was pregnant. He took the news in stride. “It’s not going to slow me down, and it’s not going to slow you down. We’re going to keep doing what we have to do,” he reportedly told her. Having a baby may have played a role in cementing the relationship, as the couple eventually went on to marry. It was in 2013, nine years after Bronny’s birth. By that time, all doubts would’ve been dispelled, and the term ‘long-distance’ would’ve become irrelevant.

The fact that the couple didn’t rush to marry may have stemmed from a belief that Savannah holds to this very day.

“Recipe for disaster” – Savannah James warns against rushing into marriage

In an earlier segment of ‘Everybody’s Crazy,’ the main topic of conversation was marriage. When asked about the appropriate age for marriage, Savannah said that there shouldn’t be a set limit. After all, some people are ready to take their relationship to the next level, while it takes time for others. She was in a relationship with LeBron for over a decade before tying the knot. Savannah noted that self-assurance, not age, should be the guiding factor when making the big decision.

“Marriage is a huge commitment, and if you’re not ready, keep being a girlfriend and a boyfriend or lady and ‘my man, my man’” said Savannah. “I don’t think you should rush into marriage at all. I think that’s a recipe for disaster.”

Today, it would have been hard to imagine a scenario in which LeBron and Savannah wouldn’t have been together. In their decade-long marriage, the duo has established themselves as a perfect NBA ‘power couple.’ They support each other’s accomplishments and hype them up during moments of need. To think that one draft decision created a butterfly effect that affected LeBron’s personal life so deeply!

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.