LeBron James has opened up about his marriage to wife Savannah, saying that the union with his high school sweetheart isn’t “picture perfect.”
The Lakers star, 40, who shares three kids with Savannah, 39, shared his candid thoughts in an interview with Speedy Morman on the “360 with Speedy” podcast Thursday.
“I’m gonna be honest, a relationship is never picture perfect,” the NBA star said, adding that even though a relationship may seem “perfect” to the public eye, that is seldom the case.
“If you’re okay with working through the hardships and the adverse moments, then it will make it all worth it,” he went on.
“We’ve been together since high school, so, s–t ain’t always gonna be a bed of roses, in any relationship, let alone someone you’re living with for over 20 years.”
James said the key to making his 12-year marriage with Savannah work is “communication” — revealing that it takes the top spot on their list of priorities.
“Being honest is number two,” he said, “and number three is, like, you have to be okay with being uncomfortable in relationships sometimes and you can’t always have it your way, it’s not gonna work that way.”
The basketball legend joked that the famous phrase “Happy wife, happy life” is “real,” before trying to come up with a similar phrase that applies to the husband.
“Happy husband, happy loving,” Morman chimed in.
James tied the knot with Savannah back in September 2013 in San Diego, Calif.
The pair celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary with a sweet post on social media on Sept. 14.
“Happy anniversary my beautiful. I love you mama,” he wrote alongside a photo of his wife.
The couple are proud parents to sons “Bronny” James Jr., 20, and Bryce Maximus, 18, and daughter Zhuri Nova, 10.
LeBron, who has a nonexistent relationship with his own dad, previously admitted he was “scared” to start his fatherhood journey.
“I had no idea how I was going to be,” he said in an August 2022 Beats By Dre ad, noting that he “kept trying” to apply the “patience, commitment [and] joy” he learned playing sports.