A high school teammate and childhood friend of LeBron James is now an NBA general manager.
Brandon Weems has been promoted to general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers after rising through the organization’s front office over the past decade, according to multiple reports on Friday, Sept. 18. He’d been an assistant general manager for the franchise since 2022.
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Weems played basketball with James at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. James’ agent, Rich Paul, described Weems as “basically like LeBron’s brother” during a podcast appearance as James was deciding on a new team this offseason. His presence in Cleveland was seen as a positive recruiting tool for the Cavaliers.
In an odd twist, Weems is replacing one of the men who helped persuade James to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers in July over the Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and others. Weems is filling the vacancy left by Mike Gansey, who is now the 76ers’ president of basketball operations.
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Look back at LeBron James’ iconic Lakers moments
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts after scoring a basket during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Dec 28, 2021.
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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Look back at LeBron James’ iconic Lakers moments
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) reacts after scoring a basket during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Dec 28, 2021.
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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Look back at LeBron James’ iconic Lakers moments
LeBron James answers a question during an interview session with reporters during the Los Angeles Lakers media day at the UCLA Health Training Center on Sept. 24, 2018 during his first season with the team.
(Robert Hanashiro, Imagn Images)
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Look back at LeBron James’ iconic Lakers moments
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James goes up for a dunk in the second half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Staples Center on Oct. 27, 2019.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James celebrates after a dunk by guard Danny Green during the second quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Staples Center on Nov. 17, 2019.
(Kelvin Kuo, Imagn Images)
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Look back at LeBron James’ iconic Lakers moments
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James takes center court to speak to fans before the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center on Jan. 31, 2020.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James gestures to a referee after a foul call during the first quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center on Feb. 21, 2020
(Robert Hanashiro, Imagn Images)
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Look back at LeBron James’ iconic Lakers moments
LeBron James and Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers in a Black Lives Matter Shirt kneel with their teammates during the national anthem prior to the game against the LA Clippers at The Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on July 30, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. on July 30, 2020.
(Pool photo by Mike Ehrmann via Imagn Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) holds up four fingers after winning his fourth NBA championship after game six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena on Oct. 11, 2020.
(Kim Klement, Imagn Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts after receiving 2020 NBA Championship ring before a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on Dec. 22, 2020.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Look back at LeBron James’ iconic Lakers moments
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James lands on fans sitting court side as he dives after a ball in the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on Jan. 24, 2023
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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Look back at LeBron James’ iconic Lakers moments
Former Los Angeles Lakers player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hands the game ball to forward LeBron James (6) after James becomes the NBA all time scoring leader against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 7, 2023.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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Look back at LeBron James’ iconic Lakers moments
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) with forward Anthony Davis (3) during a stoppage in play against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on April 11, 2023.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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Look back at LeBron James’ iconic Lakers moments
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dunks the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 27, 2023.
(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)
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Look back at LeBron James’ iconic Lakers moments
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots the ball against New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) in the NBA In Season Tournament Semifinal at T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 7, 2023.
(Kyle Terada, Imagn Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) warms up on the court prior to he start of the game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on Jan. 30, 2024.
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James prepares for the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Mar. 31, 2024.
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) scores a basket against the Miami Heat as center Jaxson Hayes (11) reacts during the second half at Crypto.com Arena on Jan. 15, 2025.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dribbles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 25, 2025.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots past Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) and Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half at American Airlines Center on April 9, 2025.
(Kevin Jairaj, Imagn Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket against the Orlando Magic in the first quarter at Kia Center on Mar. 21, 2026.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after dunking the ball against the Orlando Magic in the first quarter at Kia Center on Mar. 21, 2026.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket as Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) defends during the first half at American Airlines Center on April 5, 2026.
(Kevin Jairaj, Imagn Images)
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Look back at LeBron James’ iconic Lakers moments
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) and guard Amen Thompson (1) in the second half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 18, 2026.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
Weems, 40, played college basketball at Walsh University in Ohio and then had jobs for the men’s basketball programs at Oakland University, Drexel and Kentucky, where he worked under John Calipari. Weems began working for the Cavaliers as a scout in 2015, according to the Akron Beacon-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James’ childhood friend, HS teammate promoted to Cavaliers GM
