Savannah James is figuring out how to keep her family connected after LeBron James joined the Philadelphia 76ers, bringing a major change to their lives. Instead of relocating everyone to accommodate his basketball career, Savannah is taking a different approach, balancing family responsibilities, travel, and her children’s individual needs across multiple cities.
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During the November 3 episode of “Baby, This Is Keke Palmer,” Savannah opened up about the adjustments surrounding LeBron’s move to Philadelphia and why she feels better equipped to handle the transition at 40.
“LeBron going to play in Philly, it’s going to be an adjustment, but it is going to work out,” Savannah said. “Zuri going into the middle school, it’s an adjustment, but it’s going to work out.”
LeBron officially joined the Sixers in July after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. His decision placed him on the opposite coast from much of his family, creating a situation Savannah must now navigate without disrupting everyone’s routines.
She admitted her response would have been completely different several years ago.
“If you said LeBron was going to Philly five years ago, I’d have been like, ‘Huh, well, we got to pack up everything, Zhuri. I don’t care how you feel,'” she joked.
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Previously, a change in LeBron’s NBA career often meant a major transition for the entire household. Now, Savannah James is recognizing that her children have established lives, friendships, and commitments that deserve consideration.
Their youngest daughter, Zhuri, had questions about what her father’s relocation would mean for their relationship.
“She was trying to figure it out. Like, so am I not going to see him? Like, how is this going to work?” Savannah recalled.
Rather than immediately preparing Zhuri for a new school and another city, the family discussed ways they could travel to see one another.
Zhuri ultimately expressed a desire to remain connected to her school and volleyball team.
“She’s actually like, ‘Yeah, no, volleyball and school. I don’t want to be away from school for that long. I still want to play with my teammates,'” Savannah shared.
That decision helps explain how the James family is approaching LeBron’s latest NBA chapter. Savannah and Zhuri remain based in Los Angeles, while LeBron has been splitting his time between New York City and Philadelphia.
The couple’s sons also have separate basketball commitments. Bronny continues his NBA career with the Lakers in Los Angeles, while Bryce attends the University of Arizona and plays college basketball in Tucson.
For Savannah James, coordinating family time now means managing schedules that stretch from California to Arizona and the East Coast. Supporting LeBron during his season must also fit alongside Bryce’s college games, Bronny’s professional career, and Zhuri’s school activities.
New York has become an important location in the family’s arrangements, with Savannah discussing the challenge of moving between cities while trying to remain present for everyone.
LeBron has developed his own travel routine, commuting by helicopter between New York and the Philadelphia area for team activities. However, his transportation arrangement does not eliminate the planning required for the family to spend time together.
Savannah’s outlook on those responsibilities is also connected to her personal growth.
When Palmer asked whether turning 40 had lived up to her expectations, Savannah explained that she entered the milestone birthday intentionally, determined to feel more confident in her decisions.
“Oh, no. I had a plan,” she said. “I went into this like I want to feel a certain way. I want to look at the next 40, if you will, of my life and not be, I guess, questioning myself or decisions that I make and all of those types of things.”
“I am happy to be in this space right now. It feels good.”
That confidence is shaping how Savannah James handles the family’s latest transition. She is giving her children more input into decisions that affect their daily lives while remaining supportive of LeBron’s pursuit of another NBA championship.
Savannah also has her own professional commitments, including “Everybody’s Crazy,” the podcast she co-hosts with longtime friend and business partner April McDaniel. The two appeared together during Palmer’s interview, discussing friendship, motherhood, and their evolving responsibilities.
Palmer praised Savannah’s willingness to consider Zhuri’s perspective, particularly as the youngest James child develops her own interests outside her father’s career.
Although the distance presents challenges, Savannah has made it clear that she believes the family can adjust without requiring everyone to relocate.
