Spring Hill Apartment 602. Say these words to any basketball lover in the world and you will see a smile light up their face. One doesn’t even have to be a LeBron James fan to appreciate and admire the struggles of a young but incredibly talented boy from the backstreets of Akron, Ohio. Gloria James, the woman who gifted the world with one of the greatest basketball legends in the history of the sport, had Bron at the tender age of 16. A single mother with a newborn and a younger brother to care for, Mama Glo never let the challenges drag her down.
She kept fighting, even if it meant she had to be separate from her only child for quite some time. But Gloria knew how important it was to provide a stable home for her son. And that’s how the mother-son duo finally moved to a place with a door that locked. From there, it was an uphill climb. Of course, the struggles were still there. But the young mother finally saw the sun peeking out from the clouds that covered her family for so long. And now, after 21 years of booming success, both on and off the court, Gloria James has simple advice for the 20x All-Star.
Joining DeMarco Morgan for an exclusive inside tour of the LeBron James’ Akron Museum, Mama Glo’s answer to what she wanted her son to always remember was as wholesome as it was important. “To always stay true to himself, that his mother loves him, and to remain humble. Remember your beginnings. It creates a better story, the real story!”. The determination and grit that is part of Gloria are a characteristic of LeBron James, too.
After all, he saw how his mother suffered and still kept going. It didn’t matter how many times he’s done it, but James approached each game every night like it was his first time on the hardwood floor. The 4x champion’s dedication, discipline, and absolute focus bore fruits in ways even his mother couldn’t have comprehended!
Mama Glo’s advice is all the more relevant with all the success LeBron James has had over the years
It’s easy to get carried away with the fame and wealth that comes with being the ultimate superstar. But James has never been the one to lord it over others. The ‘Akron Hammer’ is competitive, sure. He does not hesitate to voice his thoughts and make his opinions heard. When on the floor, James gives it his all and if any of the opposing team members get snippy, he answers with buckets and posterizing dunks.
When the veteran broke the all-time scoring record, a humongous milestone, his wife took it upon herself to call him the “hardest-working person” she’s ever met. Lauding his efforts publicly, she also mentioned, “I witness day in and day out your dedication, sacrifice, and respect for the game every single day”.
LeBron James recently entered the billion-dollar club, getting a lifetime contract with Nike. While he has three brilliant children and a remarkable wife, the man’s got every reason to be arrogant. Yet, he stays grounded. And a major reason for that is the women in his life. Gloria for instilling the importance of staying humble, and Savannah for continuing the same.
And in case he forgets it, James has his mom to remind him. But the chances of a man brought up by someone like Gloria James forgetting his roots is close to impossible, isn’t it?
