LeBron James and the starting point of a legend

Portrait

We present to you a chapter in the book “LeBron James: The inspirational story of one of the best basketball players in history”. This segment captures the difficult first days of LeBron James when he had to leave his family, strive to study and become a basketball phenomenon at the high school level.

Stories about how persistent LeBron James is and how he conquered the top of the NBA have been appearing for more than a decade. LeBron won 4 NBA championships, 4 Finals MVP titles and 4 MVP titles.

But all that glamour, the peak of fame, started in a small dormitory house in Akron, Ohio.

LeBron James just won the NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. Photo: Getty.

Coming from a difficult background

LeBron Raymone James had a rough start in life. He is the son of a mother who is still a teenager and a father who has abandoned his responsibilities. Born on December 30, 1984, LeBron knew the hardships from when he was young. LeBron’s father had no interest in him being born and refused to be in his life.

Akron is also not a good place for a single mother like Gloria James. The city’s tire manufacturing industry seriously declined in the late 80s and early 90s, leading to great inequality in society when poor people could not find opportunities to rise.

LeBron was born and raised in the suburbs of Akron. Immediately after giving birth, mother Gloria James had to go back to school immediately, leaving LeBron with his grandmother. However, when James was 3 years old, his grandmother died of a stroke.

Mrs. Gloria James is a special source of motivation for LeBron. Photo: Getty.

The financial burden fell on the young single mother and soon mother and child had to live day by day in each resettlement area. Unable to find a stable job, the lives of Gloria and her son are filled with days of moving houses and schools. LeBron James has no stability in life.

The little boy struggled to grow up. His mother was often away for many days and LeBron had to take care of everything in his life since he was 7 years old. The hardships made the boy grow old before his time. LeBron’s eyes rarely have the innocence of a child, and he almost never smiles. Life only changed for LeBron, when he joined the rugby team called East Dragons.

LeBron tasted joy from here and gradually had a solid spiritual foundation in life. Sports helped LeBron start to have friends. Frankie Walker, the son of the team’s head coach, became LeBron’s first friend in life.

Gradually, LeBron became close to the Walkers family. When he was 9 years old, LeBron asked his mother to come stay at this family’s house. The single mother was somewhat miserable when she couldn’t take care of her son, but she knew it was a good thing for LeBron. LeBron needs a home address to be able to enroll in school. Above all, LeBron needs a home.

The Walkers enrolled LeBron and their three children in Portage Path Elementary School. Responding to that sentiment, LeBron always tries his best to study, behave moderately and stay away from all temptations. This is also where LeBron started to get acquainted with the orange ball.

With all the conveniences in life, LeBron and his mother Gloria James have never lost their emotional bond. Gloria often visits her son every weekend. She made sure all the money she made was for LeBron.

Gloria doesn’t want to disappear in her little son’s life, which already lacks family affection. That’s why the first person LeBron called after winning the fourth championship of his career with the Lakers was Gloria.

First basketball lessons

Since he was a child, LeBron went to basketball gyms of players much older than him. He often visits Elizabeth Park. The rule here is that each person puts their name in a hat. Then there will be a draw to choose the team. LeBron rarely gets picked. He took it as contempt.

LeBron doesn’t say it out loud, but he believes that because he is small, he is being left out. He immediately practiced shooting with both hands. LeBron is left-handed but throws the ball with his right hand. This makes it easier for him to score points. Gradually, LeBron dominated the playing field. This was also the first stepping stone that brought him to stardom.

Media and public attention have followed LeBron since day one. Photo: Getty.

LeBron stayed at the Walkers’ family home until he was 17 years old. That was also when LeBron’s fame began to take off. People told each other about the boy at St Vincent – St Mary High School with incredible speed in a large body and impressive passing ability.

Tickets to LeBron’s games often sell out. This high school’s matches then had to move to a stadium with a larger capacity to accommodate more spectators.

The “phenomenon” LeBron James caused ESPN to broadcast live a national high school basketball match. While his teammates were still growing up, LeBron was ready for the NBA with a 31-point performance against the No. 1 high school team in America at that time, Oak Hill Academy. There have been firm assertions: this is the best high school basketball player in history.

What differentiates LeBron James from other high school stars is the maturity in his play. As a star, LeBron values passes and always wants his teammates to participate. This must mention the role of coach John Reed.

He is the one who helped LeBron know how to become a real basketball player for the team. LeBron learned to play every position on the court. Thanks to that, he knows his role as well as how to look at the game from all angles.

Those who have been in contact with him since childhood understand why James became as great as he is today. Despite the difficulties and hardships in life, LeBron always sees himself as a winner.

Facing challenges, LeBron is always positive. Instead of being knocked down by bitter comments and sarcasm in life, like the embarrassing loss to Dallas Maverick in the 2011 NBA Finals, LeBron keeps moving forward. Because he always believes he is the leader and will be the ultimate winner.