When LeBron James first entered the NBA straight out of St. Vincent-St. Mary high school, he wore No. 23 in honor of Michael Jordan. This week he seems to have taken another cue from his Airness -- proposing to a longtime girlfriend. On New Year's Eve, James proposed to Savannah Brinson, his high school sweetheart and the mother of his two children, just days after MJ got engaged to model Yvette Prieto.
In the early hours of 2012, Miami Heat owner Mickey Arison tweeted his congratulations to the couple, who was ringing in 2012 at a bash at the SL Nightclub in South Beach.
According to the Miami Herald, the New Year's Eve bash also doubled as a birthday for party for James, who turned 27 on Friday. Among the glitterati in attendance the along with members of the Miami Heat were Queen Latifah and Lauren Hill.
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Shortly after James infamously announced that he would be taking his prodigious talents from the couple's home state to South Beach during "The Decision" in July 2010, Brinson admitted that Miami wasn't her first-choice destination and even discussed her hopes for marriage with Harper's Bazaar.
"I've definitely not put a fire under his ass. I would never rush him to do something like that. We're really comfortable with the way things are now. And it's not up to me. When it happens, it happens." Brinson told Lola Ogunnaike of Harper's in 2010. "We talk about it. If we do it, I want it to be forever."
Although an NBA championship ring continues to elude him, James is now on his way to wearing one that he will hopefully consider even more important -- a wedding ring.
After accepting the NBA Most Valuable Player award during a ceremony at James' alma mater, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, in Akron, Ohio on Monday, May 4, 2009, Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James hands the trophy to his son Lebron Jr., 4. Watching are James girlfriend Savannah Brinson and their youngest son Bryce.
NBA player LeBron James of the Miami Heat, Savannah Brinson, Former California Goveror Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Maria Shriver attend After-School All-Stars (ASAS) Hoops Heroes Salute VIP after party at Katsuya, LA Live on February 18, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
(L-R) Ffawn co-creator Steve Stoute, Singer Mary J. Blige, NBA player LeBron James, his girlfirend Savannah Brinson, and Gucci President Daniella Vitale attend the Gucci cocktail party for Ffawn at Gucci Fifth Avenue on September 16, 2009 in New York City.
(L-R) NBA player LeBron James and Savannah Brinson attend the Gucci cocktail party for Ffawn at Gucci Fifth Avenue on September 16, 2009 in New York City.
Savanah Brinson and LeBron James attend the 2nd Annual Jay-Z and LeBron James Two Kings Dinner presented by Doublemint Gum during NBA All-Star Weekend February 16, 2008 at Generation Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana.
NBA player LeBron James (L) of the Cleveland Cavaliers and his fiancee Savannah Brinson arrive at the opening of Jay-Z's USD 20 million 40/40 Club, a 24,000-square-foot sports bar and lounge at The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino December 30, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates with his girlfried, Savannah Brinson, after the Cavs defeated the Detroit Pistons 98-82 in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs on June 2, 2007 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers walks off the court with his girlfried, Savannah Brinson, after the Cavs defeated the Detroit Pistons 98-82 in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs on June 2, 2007 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Miami Heat basketball player LeBron James and his girlfriend Savannah Brinson at the Northwest Boys & Girls Club in Miami, Wednesday, March 2, 2011. The LeBron James Family Foundation partnered with HP to donate 1,000 computers nationwide to Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Miami Heat basketball player LeBron James, left, sits with his girlfriend Savannah Brinson during an interview with the Associated Press prior to a charity event at the Northwest Boys & Girls Club in Miami, Wednesday, March 2, 2011. The LeBron James Family Foundation partnered with HP to donate 1,000 computers nationwide to Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James' girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, holds their son, Bryce James, during an NBA Eastern Conference semifinal basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday, May 5, 2009, in Cleveland.
Basketball player LeBron James laughs as his girlfriend Savannah Brinson looks on at a benefit for the LeBron James Family Foundation at the Ralph Lauren mansion, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, in New York.
Basketball player LeBron James and his girlfriend Savannah Brinson arrive at a benefit for the LeBron James Family Foundation at the Ralph Lauren mansion, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, in New York.
