Father figure is someone you never outgrow your need for, but LeBron James father left a huge gap in the super athlete’s life but at the same time, it fueled him for greatness!!
Today, LeBron James, best known as “King James,” is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was also named the Athlete of the Year by Time magazine in 2020.
The four-time NBA champion was born to Gloria Marie James and Anthony McClelland. Today, LeBron James is at the peak of his fame, but it was not easy to get there because of his difficult upbringing.
Gloria played a crucial role in shaping James’s life, while Anthony was mostly absent. Growing up, James did not get to have a healthy father-son relationship.
So who exactly is Anthony McClelland? Why was he not a part of Lebron James’s childhood? How was missing a father figure from life for King James? Let us find out through this article.
It is unclear who Anthony McClelland actually is since his former girlfriend, Gloria James, and their son, Lebron, are hesitant to reveal too much about him.
Anthony and Gloria were in a casual relationship when she gave birth to their son, LeBron. However, Gloria was only sixteen at the time, and Anthony was not the most supportive father.
McClelland had an extensive criminal history. In addition, he did not pay for child support, leaving Gloria to look after LeBron on her own.
She lived with her mother, Freda James, her grandmother, and two brothers. After the death of her grandmother and mother, she had to fend for herself, her son, and her brothers all by herself.
McClelland was not there for LeBron or his mother in their time of need. They had to move from one apartment to the other because Gloria struggled to get a stable job.
However, the absence of Anthony fueled James’ motivation to work harder and follow his dreams passionately.
His NBA star son doesn’t recall any memories with him, and they don’t even share the same surname.
Anthony McClelland: Kids
Aside from LeBron James, it is rumored that McClelland had a son named Aaron McCelland Gamble with another woman. Aaron was born in 1987 in LeBron’s hometown Akron, Ohio.
Anthony did not take responsibility for Aaron either, instead choosing to leave him and his mother behind.
Aaron has tried to get in touch with his supposed half-brother, but it seems LeBron is not interested, even a bit, in forming a relationship with him.
After all, many people have falsely claimed to be related to James in hopes of getting monetary support.
Anthony McClelland: Career
There is minimal information on Anthony McClelland and his professional career.
However, McClelland headed the wrong path from a very young age, so we can even assume he could not earn a proper living.
In 2002, he was arrested for crimes like arson and theft. After that, he was constantly going in and out of prison for petty crimes.
Who is LeBron James? Early Life
LeBron James was born on December 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio, United States. His mother, Gloria Marie James, was only 16 when she gave birth to him, and she struggled a lot to provide for the family.
Anthony McClelland, James’s father, was not an active father figure in his life. As a result, Gloria had to give up on LeBron, and she sent him to live with a football coach named Frank Walker.
Gloria wanted LeBron to live in a stable family environment, but that did not mean she had abandoned him. On the contrary, she was only looking out for his future.
When James was nine years old, Walker helped him recognize his talent for basketball. James went to St. Vincent-St. Mary High School and caused a huge stir because it was a white-dominated school.
He was a part of the school’s varsity basketball team, and he was even named Ohio Mr. Basketball in his sophomore year.
James appeared in different basketball magazines, and he had many supporters before he could start a professional career.
LeBron James: Career
LeBron Raymone James Sr. is a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. In 2003, he was chosen by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first overall pick of the NBA draft.
In his 2003-2004 Rookie season, he received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. After he became a free agent in 2010, he signed with the Miami Heat. However, this action drew in a lot of criticism.
Many fans were not happy with his decision to leave Cleveland Cavaliers, and he had to deal with a lot of hate online and on the court.
After four years in the Heat, he returned to Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014. However, he chose to leave the Cavaliers again in 2018 and signed with the Lakers.
Currently, he plays the position of small forward for the Lakers team.
King James made his national team debut at the 2004 Olympics, the year Team USA came home with a bronze medal. He was a part of the Olympic team for two more years in 2008 and 2012, winning gold medals both times.
To sum up, James is a four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA Finals MVP, four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, and seventeen-time NBA All-Star.
In addition, he was named AP’s Athlete of the Year four times in his career.
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LeBron James: Wife and Kids
James met Savannah Brinson in high school, and they remained committed to each other throughout James’s basketball journey.
Bronny is also following in his father’s footsteps and plays high school basketball.
LeBron James Father: Conspiracy
There is a conspiracy going around the internet regarding the real identity of LeBron James‘s father. Many people believe his birth father is Roland Bivins.
Bivins went to the same high school as Gloria James, and he was around 18 or 19 when Gloria gave birth to LeBron. Many people in their hometown believe they dated for a while as they were often hanging out together.
Like LeBron, Bivins was also a high school basketball player. Roland’s high school coach went as far as to compare their playstyle and demeanor.
Some even claim Roland Bivins is Anthony McClelland himself. However, it is rumored that Roland changed his name after going to prison numerous times.
But here comes the confusing part: Bivins died in 1994 when we know that McClelland went to prison in 2002. So there is no telling how much truth this theory holds.
LeBron James Father: Lawsuit
In 2010, LeBron and his mother, Gloria, were sued by Leicester Bryce Stovell, a lawyer who claimed to be James’s birth father. He claimed to have had a one-night stand with Gloria before LeBron was born.
Stovell further claimed that Gloria told him about the pregnancy on a phone call but then hid the truth from everyone.
LeBron was willing to take a DNA test, and it proved that Stovell was not the father. However, he was not ready to give up just yet.
Stovell sued the mother and son for fraud and defamation. But because of a lack of evidence, Anthony lost the lawsuit.
LeBron James: Net Worth
LeBron James is the fifth-highest-paid player in the NBA, and he makes even more through appearances and brand deals. He makes around $400 million in salary and $600 million from endorsements.
His estimated net worth is about $850 million.
James owns a $21 million residence in Brentwood, a neighborhood in the Westside of Los Angeles. In 2017, He bought a $23 million mansion in Brentwood, two years after buying the first house in the same area.
He has a $10 million house in Akron, Ohio, and a $36.5 million spread in Beverly Hills. In addition, the NBA All-Star has invested over $700 million in multiple businesses and companies.
LeBron James: Social Media
King James shares snippets from his basketball games, business events, and brand deals on his social media. He also posts family pictures, information related to his non-profit organization, and many off-the-court moments.
Instagram: 131m followers
Twitter: 52.2m followers
Facebook: 27m followers
FAQs
Who is LeBron James’s biological father?
According to his mother, Gloria James, Anthony McClelland is LeBron’s biological father.
Unfortunately, not much is known about him, other than the fact that he went in and out of prison numerous times.
Who is LeBron James’s half-brother?
There are rumors that LeBron’s half-brother is Aaron McClelland Gamble from Akron, Ohio. Like James, Gamle grew up without a father.
Although Aaron has tried to reach out to LeBron, he has not received a response yet.
