Tuesday's P.M. Hot Clicks: LeBron James Turns 30

Rare Photos of LeBron JamesLeBron James turned 30 today and everyone from Johnny Manziel (with this video) to Nike (with this new line of sneakers) is wishing

Andy Gray | Dec 30, 2014

Tuesday's P.M. Hot Clicks: LeBron James Turns 30 /

Rare Photos of LeBron James

LeBron James Off the Court

And so it begins....

Lebron went with a stuffed elephant over a basketball for this portrait.

A high-school aged LeBron poses during a Field of Dreams-inspired photo shoot in 2002.

James didn't always boast a 250-pound frame, but has always been an intimidating presence, having averaged 21 points per game as a freshman in high school.

St. Vincent-St. Mary games were often broadcast on national television and played in college arenas during James' time with the Irish. He never did play in a college game, though.

Despite all the fanfare and attention surrounding James in his high school years, the kid destined for stardom stayed hungry.

LeBron got to meet Michael Jordan while His Airness was still playing. Jordan had just finished playing against the Cavaliers in this 2003 picture.

LeBron's younger brother, Frankie, accompanies LeBron at the 2003 NBA draft.

Because what else would James watch in his leisure time?

Don't we all wish we could be teenage superstars with a limo stocked with Tootsie Pops.

LeBron goes all "Cat in the Hat" while speaking to kids at a Cavaliers Read to Achieve event in 2003.

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

LeBron shows off his pearly whites during an NBA photo shoot in 2003.

LeBron James Lil Wayne — Johnny Nunez/WireImage

LeBron celebrates his 21st birthday by sharing the mic with rapper Lil' Wayne.

James' kid-friendly image has been shaped by his life as a father. He has three children with his high school sweetheart Savannah Brinson — LeBron Jr., Bryce Maximus, and Zhuri.

LeBron James: MVP, All-Star, scoring champ and ... MC Hammer look-alike at the 2007 ESPYs.

Fans and experts alike wonder how good LeBron could have been as a pro football player, given his size and strength. He was an All-State wide receiver in high school, and even Packers president Mark Murphy has compared his skills to Jerry Rice's.

And if he decides to pull a Michael Jordan and try a career in baseball, it looks like LeBron may have a bright future in that, as well.

James, decked out in warm-ups of his high school alma mater, enjoys a chuckle with Jay-Z during the 2010 All-Star Weekend in Dallas.

LeBron entered the 2010 offseason as the most sought-after free agent on the market. After contemplating a future in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Miami or a return to Cleveland, James chose to take his talents to South Beach where he could play with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Regardless of the ill will, James still makes time for his fans. In this photo, The King plays Connect Four with children from the Miami Rescue Mission in 2010.

Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Sprite

LeBron joins 200 youth in a spontaneous "chalk clap" to dedicate a new athletic field at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida in 2010.

James joins Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade at a Miami performing arts center to celebrate Bosh's 28th birthday in March 2012. No word on whether this newly formed band performed any songs for the audience.

LeBron greets First Lady Michelle Obama at the 2012 London Olympics.

LeBron enjoys some time at a club in London.

Two months after battling in the NBA Finals, James and Kevin Durant teamed up to win an Olympic gold medal in 2012.

2013-LeBron_James-NBA_Cares-Houston_All_Star_2013BY4_5077.jpg — Bruce Yeung/NBAE/Getty Images

LeBron helps plant a tree during the 2013 NBA Cares Day of Service at the LIVE Project in Houston.

LeBron enjoys a cigar after winning his second consecutive NBA championship and Finals MVP in 2013.

Lebron looks to be filming his role in the 2015 comedy "Trainwreck" with Bill Hader at a restaurant in New York City during the summer of 2014.

2014-1005-LeBron-James-Kyrie-Irving-X158759_TK1_0698.jpg — Fred Vuich

Kyrie Irving and LeBron James share a laugh on the bench during the Cavs 2014 preseason exhibition game with Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv in Cleveland.

Lebron James and Kevin Love attend The 2015 ESPYS in Los Angeles.

LeBron smiles during a photo shoot in 2015.

2016-0619-LeBron-James-daughter-Zhuri-SI146_TK1_11706.w_0.jpg — John W. McDonough

LeBron holds his 20-month old daughter Zhuri alongside his third NBA Finals MVP trophy following the Cavs' Game 7 victory over the Golden State Warriors in 2016.

LeBron poses with some of the nation's top high school players during Nike's 2016 Skills Academy in a private hangar at the one-runway Hawthorne Municipal Airport in Los Angeles.

Kevin Love and LeBron James pose with foam fingers during the Cavs' 2016 media day in Independence, Ohio.

LeBron celebrates during Game 2 of the 2016 ALCS between the Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

2016-1110-Cleveland-Cavaliers-White-House-LeBron-James_0.jpg — Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

LeBron and the 2016 NBA champion Cavaliers were honored by President Barack Obama on the South Lawn of the White House.

LeBron James throws a pass on the field as Cavs teammate J.R. Smith looks on before Ohio State's game against Michigan at the Horseshoe in 2016.

LeBron James turned 30 today and everyone from Johnny Manziel (with this video) to Nike (with this new line of sneakers) is wishing him well. Complex has the 30 best sneaker moments of James' career, meanwhile Slam Magazine compiled the top 30 plays of his career. We dug into our photo archive for these rare photos, starting with a pint-sized James and his new basketball hoop.

Jim Harbaugh: Michigan Savior

Jim Harbaugh was introduced as new head coach at Michigan and promptly tripped on his way to the podium for his introductory press conference. Harbaugh will earn about $5 million a year, making it a point to take less money (initial rumors had the deal at six years, $48 million) so his assistants can earn more. The good people at Boozist put together this list of all the ways Harbaugh can spend his new fortune (318,000 kegs of Wolverine Premium Lager, anyone?).

More Reasons Athletes Should Stay Off Twitter

Mandatory.com collected the most embarrassing sexual tweets by famous athletes. The less I say on this one the better.

P.M. Lovely Lady of the Day

Lianne V. is (according to her website) a multiple threat, who sings, writes, dances, models and acts. She can now add Hot Clicks LLOD to her resume (click here for full-size gallery).

Why Doesn't This Happen To Me?

An Oregon couple found a ticket to Thursday's Rose Bowl while unloading groceries in their garage. They are trying to find the ticket's actual owner, but will sell the ticket and donate the money to charity if they can't.

That Didn't Take Long

Lee Westwood is Prescient

Check the date of the tweet. 🔮gypsie rose Lee Westwood!😜 pic.twitter.com/i3ywObH43D
— Lee Westwood (@WestwoodLee) December 30, 2014

Paul Pierce is Harry Caray

Speaking of Harry Caray

Photo gold from deep in the SI Vault: Harry Caray in the stands during a 1978 White Sox game (pic by Hal Stoelzle): pic.twitter.com/J5fanAx0vu
— SI Vault (@si_vault) December 9, 2013

Abigail Ratchford > Hulk Hogan

Odds & Ends

Buffalo forward Patrick Kaleta punched himself in the face during a fight with Ottawa's Jared Cowen last night ...Aaron Rodgers good-luck charm is a grown man with a long red beard ... Extra Mustard's recap of Monday Night Raw... Russell Wilson is rumored to have a new girlfriend and she is a head-turner ... Ten most notable sports media stories of 2014 ... Tiger Woods is opening a new restaurant in Florida ... The 45 funniest auto-correct fails of 2014 ... Nine outrageous Screech moments from Saved by the Bell ... Paul Rudd will appear in the final season of Parks and Recreation.

Anastasia Ashley's Swimsuit Outtakes

She's the best.

Little Tiger

Tiger Woods is also celebrating a birthday today -- the big 3-9. Here's a video of him at 5-years-old appearing on That's Incredible.

LeBron in High School

Highlights of LeBron's days at St. Vincent-St. Mary.

New Year's Concert of the Day

Pearl Jam plays The Academy in New York City on New Year's Eve, 1992.

Click here for previous editions of Hot Clicks

Published Dec 30, 2014

ANDY GRAY

A senior editor atSI.com, Andy Gray oversees Hot Clicks, Extra Mustard and the Swimsuit site. A Boston sports loyalist and Columbia graduate, he joined SI in 2005.