COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio State University plans to give LeBron James an honorary degree.

The Ohio State Board of Trustees will meet Wednesday to vote on dozens decisions, including whether to give an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree to NBA great LeBron James.

According to Ohio State’s University Senate, honorary degrees are only conferred when “it can be demonstrated that the recipient has made contributions far beyond the expected high standards of the profession.”

James is the only person up for approval for an honorary degree from OSU, which last awarded an honorary public service doctorate in August 2024. If approved, James will join an impressive list of awardees, including former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Dr. Anthony Fauci and former presidents Barack Obama, Gerald Ford, George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush.

Among the star-studded list are few professional athletes, making James a standout. Jesse Owens also received an honorary degree, although he also graduated from Ohio State. James was invited by former Ohio State football coach and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel to play football for Ohio State, but instead James went directly to the NBA. James has received other honors that are rare among professional athletes; he also recently became the first professional male athlete to have his likeness depicted in a Ken doll.

  • College Football: Cleveland Cavaliers player LeBron James on field before Ohio State vs Michigan at Ohio Stadium. Columbus, OH 11/26/2016 CREDIT: Jeff Haynes (Photo by Jeff Haynes /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: SI628 TK1 )
  • COLUMBUS, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 03: LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attends a game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on September 03, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
  • ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 12: LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium on January 12, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The 40-year-old from Akron famously skipped playing college hoops to go straight to the NBA in 2003. He was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the No. 1 overall pick and the rest is history. In his first seven NBA seasons, all with Cleveland, James was able to turn around the franchise and led them to its first Eastern Conference title in 2007 before losing the NBA Finals. 

His first stint in Cleveland came to an end after announcing on television his intention to play for the Miami Heat. He won his first two NBA championships with Miami in 2012 and 2013 and won the league’s MVP award in each of those seasons. James returned to Cleveland for the 2014-15 season and got the Cavaliers back to winning ways, leading the team to four straight NBA Finals. His lone finals win with the Cavaliers was in 2016 over the Golden State Warriors, overcoming a 3-1 series deficit to bring Cleveland its first professional sports title in over 50 years. 

“The King” left Cleveland again to become the next Los Angeles Lakers player. James led the team to the 2019-20 NBA championship in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, winning his fourth NBA title and fourth NBA Finals MVP. As a Laker, James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in 2023, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

James has played 22 full seasons in the NBA. Amassing four NBA title, Finals MVPs, and regular season MVPs along with 21 All-Star appearance and 13 All-NBA First Team selections. He has also won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA, been named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, and was named the Associated Press’ best athlete of the 2010s.    

James’ son Bronny James was recruited by Ohio State to play basketball, but decided to go to USC before being drafted by the Lakers in 2024 to play with his dad.

The Board of Trustees will meet to vote on James’ degree and dozens of other matters Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.