Rusty Weiss
LeBron James made it crystal clear: his youngest daughter, Zhuri, won’t be joining the family basketball dynasty anytime soon—and he’s pointing the finger squarely at his wife, Savannah, for shutting it down.
In a candid post-game interview following the Los Angeles Lakers‘ big 129-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night, the 41-year-old superstar addressed reporters’ questions about whether 11-year-old Zhuri harbors any hoop dreams of her own.
The moment came after James’ daughter, who traveled with her dad on the road trip, went viral for showing off impressive ball-handling form on the sidelines during warmups. Social media went rampant with speculation about a potential third James sibling entering the basketball world. (Yes, Bronny still plays.)
“She’s a volleyball player,” James insisted. “Don’t get my wife mad. My wife is done with this basketball s—. She’s done with it.”
Zhuri James x LeBron James —
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This is great. 🙌
(via @NBA)
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LeBron James Blames Savannah: Zhuri’s Future Is Volleyball, Not Hoops
The four-time NBA MVP didn’t stop there. He acknowledged Zhuri’s natural talent in the game—thanks to years of being immersed in her dad’s career, family travel, and AAU tournaments for her brothers.
Still, he insisted, Savannah ain’t playin’.
“She’s a volleyball player, but she’s been around the game for a while,” James said. “She got good handles, and she got a good form, too. But my wife ain’t playin that. Not another one. She said, ‘That’s it.’”
Zhuri is the youngest of the couple’s three children; her older brothers have both followed in their father’s footsteps. Bronny James is on the Lakers’ roster, though nobody really knows why, while Bryce James is redshirting his freshman year at the University of Arizona.
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Aside from playing volleyball, Zhuri previously had her own YouTube channel, “All Things Zhuri,” where she shared lifestyle content, including segments on baking, yoga, and painting. She also has a keen eye for fashion. She helped launch Janie and Jack x Harlem’s Fashion Row clothing collection when she was just 5.
Of course, “launching” a fashion line helps when your father is a sports icon.
Zhuri’s volleyball skills were highlighted in an Instagram post by her father a few years ago. The post featured Zhuri in top form and was captioned with a proud message from LeBron, who called her “munchkin” as she served up heaters.
How done with basketball is Savannah? She’s been pretty vocal in recent years about her own weariness with the lifestyle.
LeBron previously shared in a June Instagram Story snippet that his wife had urged him to retire soon, saying she “wants me to f—ing retire in the next year or so.”
Savannah responded to the viral video of Zhuri handling the rock, seemingly affirming LeBron’s sentiments.
“Yeah, it’s a no,” she wrote. “We’ll be over here.”