LeBron James to receive honorary Doctorate from Ohio State

A great what-if is what if LeBron James had gone to college. Namely, what if he had he been an Ohio State Buckeye? Now, that has played out to some extent with news today out of Columbus.

Per reporting by the Columbus Post Dispatch, James will be receiving an honorary Doctorate from The Ohio State University. Their Board of Trustees will vote on that on Wednesday, with James to receive a Doctor of Public Service degree for his career both on and off of the basketball court.

“LeBron James has long said that if he had to attend college, he would have attended Ohio State.
Now he’ll be officially be recognized as an honorary Buckeye,” they wrote. “When Ohio State’s Board of Trustees meets May 21, it will vote to award an honorary degree to the Akron native and all-time NBA great. James will receive a Doctor of Public Service degree for not just his basketball career, but his off-the-court community impact.”

“Born in Akron, Ohio, LeBron Raymone James Sr. is a professional basketball player with a dedication to community engagement and improving the lives of children and families through education, opportunities, and community resources,” read the full notes for tomorrow’s meeting. “Just as he’s elevated the game of basketball, LeBron has redefined philanthropy to create a revolutionary model for community building in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.”

James is obviously an all-time basketball player as a future first-ballot Hall of Famer in the NBA. What’s also known, though, is his off-court career with his work in areas like the LeBron James Family Foundation, founded in 2004, and the ‘I PROMISE Program’, which has served students and their families in the area. He has put a percentage of his net worth and time into those spaces away from the floor to better the lives of others in the community.

Again, the lone thing missing from James’ career was a year in college, likely at Ohio State. However, as the top prospect in years out of St. Vincent–St. Mary High School, he went straight to the pros as the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. Since then, the achievements are known as a four-time NBA Champion, a four-time MVP, a 21-time All-Star, a 20-time selection as All-NBA, and the all-time leader in scoring and minutes played in the NBA. He’s also a three-time gold medalist representing as part of Team USA.

James is an icon for what he has done in the public spotlight over the course of the 2000s. He now has one of the only things he has never had in that time with a college degree, albeit honorary, for his impact as a whole, specifically in the state of Ohio.