AP News, June 14th, 2007
As he prepared for Game 4 of the NBA finals, LeBron James became a father for the second time. His girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, gave birth early Thursday to the couple's second son, Bryce Maximus James.
James was at the hospital for the delivery and appeared a little sleepy following the Cavaliers' morning shootaround at Quicken Loans Arena.
"It was a late night for him," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "But he's young; he's fine."
The 22-year-old James said he would comment on his son's birth during his media availability before Game 4.
Maximus is the name of the lead character in "Gladiator," a movie about a powerful Roman general, who is betrayed and seeks revenge for his family's murder as a gladiator. The film is James' favorite.
Bryce, who weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces and was 21 inches long, was born at 12:51 a.m. at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital, near his father's hometown of Akron.
"Savannah and the baby are healthy and doing well," said Keith Estabrook, a spokesman for the player and his family.
Brinson had been due to deliver Sunday. James and his longtime girlfriend had their first child, LeBron James Jr., in October 2004.
Down 0-3 in the series, the Cavaliers are hoping the child's arrival is a good omen as they face a Spurs team on the brink of a fourth NBA title since 1999. No team in history has ever overcome an 0-3 deficit to win the championship.
"Maybe it means something," guard Larry Hughes said. "Bringing another life into the world will maybe give us life."
