Most NBA fans know LeBron James goes by many nicknames. The Chosen One, Captain LeMerica, The Little Emperor, the list seems to be endless. But there is one that hardly anyone would know about. The reason? It is not a commonly used moniker but is exclusive to an ex-NBA star who was left in awe of “King James.” In fact, no one would know it to date as it only came to light during former Pistons star, Mateen Cleaves’, recent appearance on All The Smoke. 

During his appearance on the podcast, Cleaves was asked about his memories of James’ rookie year. “Different… I gave him a nickname… Heaven Sent… Like God sent you… He was the real deal,” he replied. Cleave further explained his nickname of the LA Lakers star, mentioning that he felt one cannot practice to be that good unless God himself sent him.

Now, just the stats are simply not enough to reflect LeBron James’ greatness. But for what it’s worth, we all know he won 2004 Rookie of the Year. More importantly, he did it in a talent pool that included names like Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony. And the fact he started with 20+ points per game average and even after 20 seasons in the league, he can manage the same. Certainly, better stats are a justification of Cleaves’s nickname in itself.

No wonder Cleaves stated on All The Smoke that playing during the same era as Bron was no less than a blessing. “When I’m speaking to people… I throw that name out there. Played with LeBron, baby,” he said. Now, the recent revelation by Cleaves may make some fans curious about the origin story of some other nicknames of the 4x NBA champ. Well, we got you!

What’s the backstory to some of LeBron James’ most popular nicknames?

Can you imagine being a high school freshman and already earning a nickname like King James? After leading St. Vincent-St. Mary to the 2000 Ohio state championship, people started calling LeBron James the very same name. His friend Randy Mims first noticed the buzz, and from there, it just stuck. Today, you see it everywhere—his social media, Nike gear, even his signature sneakers.

However, the Chosen One might be the nickname that put LeBron on the national stage. At just 17, he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated, where the headline boldly declared him The Chosen One. And the 4x NBA champ didn’t shy away from it. Interestingly, he fully embraced it, even getting the moniker tattooed across his back. No big deal, right?

As for Captain LeMerica, it is a recent addition that came when, after Team USA’s rough showing in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Bron was quick to commit to the 2024 Olympics. His leadership—and recruiting—earned him this superhero-inspired nickname. And lastly, there’s The Little Emperor. A little more niche—this one started as a fan favorite early in LeBron James’s career. But now it’s mostly used by his critics. With all due respect to all these nicknames, there is no denying that Mateen Cleaves’ Heaven Sent has a nice ring to it as well.