LeBron James is considered one of the greatest legends in the history of basketball. But James’ life and career would have been very different if it weren’t for a turning point that happened when he was in 4th grade.
Wandering around
As a superstar, every time he gives inspirational talks to young people, LeBron James talks about the time that changed his life. He doesn’t tell them about his high school years – the time when he met the girl he would later marry. He doesn’t talk endlessly about winning his first Olympic gold medal, his first NBA championship, or signing a $110 million contract. Instead, James talks about his fourth grade years.
That was 1993, when James was only 9 years old. That was the boundary, the turning point in James’s life. Before and after that time were two completely different worlds.
James was born in Akron, Ohio, USA on December 30, 1984. At that time, James’s “mother” Gloria was only… 16 years old. James’s childhood was extremely difficult. Little James had no idea about his father. The person he had to call “father” was “busy” going in and out of prison.
James’ mother dropped out of school early, had no stable job, and had to live on welfare. At first, James relied on his grandmother and great-grandfather. When his grandmother and great-grandfather passed away, the already precarious life of James and his mother became even more precarious.
With the family constantly in a state of financial ruin, the only thing James and his mother were certain of was that their future was uncertain. Nothing was guaranteed. Even the heating system in the dilapidated old house that had been home to four generations of James had been cut off due to unpaid bills.
The house was broken and there was no money to fix it. There was no money to buy food, so Gloria had to drag James from one house to another to stay at. One week, the mother and son stayed at a neighbor’s house. Another week, they stayed at Gloria’s brother’s house. Another week, they stayed at a close friend’s house. Another week, they had to stay at the house of… one of Gloria’s ex-boyfriends.
The reason Gloria and her mother had to move so frequently was largely due to the disorderly lifestyle of Gloria and her friends. They often drank indiscriminately, played loud music at night, and argued loudly. Once, Gloria’s friend’s neighbors had to call the police to “put a stop to the riot.”
Living such a carefree life, Gloria had no time or mind to take care of and educate James. Gloria often tried to find a game console and forced James to play by himself to calm down. Today he stayed at this house, tomorrow he stayed at that house, James could not go to school regularly.
So, James grew up in a state of confusion about “who am I and where is this?” Until the fourth grade, James was still just a wandering child following the wandering, wild lifestyle of his 25-year-old “mother.” James was still just a child without dreams and not daring to dream.
Turning point of life
James’s seemingly dead-end life only found a way out in late Fall 1993. There was no home in Akron that could take in Gloria and James anymore (Gloria had already asked for help at least once). Gloria knew she could not carry her son, let alone raise him. Gloria planned to send James to relatives in New York, asking them to help her raise him.
Luckily, a family in the suburbs of Akron adopted James. It was the family of Frank Walker, an American football coach. Knowing James’ pitiful situation, Walker did not hesitate to take James in and raise him along with his three young children.
At the Walkers’ home, James experienced the feeling of being in a real family for the first time in his life. Walker and his wife Pam were both hard-working and exemplary people. They taught James life skills, taught him how to bake, played freely, and received a good education.
Most importantly, Walker gave James the best possible conditions to pursue his passion for basketball. James’ life turned a new page from then on.
Son is better than mother
James’s fifth-grade teacher, Karen Grindall, had previously taught Gloria’s mother. Knowing Gloria’s troubles better than anyone, Grindall worried that “history might repeat itself.” Fortunately, James did not grow up to follow in his mother’s footsteps.
NBA salary cap set to skyrocket
According to calculations from the National Basketball Association, the NBA salary cap is likely to skyrocket when LeBron James becomes a free agent. Specifically, the NBA salary could reach $151 million in the 2021/22 season. This is because many clubs will be willing to spend money to recruit LeBron once he leaves the Los Angeles Lakers.
LeBron James jerseys will be more expensive
Fans in the US and around the world will have to pay more to own a LeBron James jersey in the Los Angeles Lakers shirt. This is the consequence that Nike, the manufacturer of LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers jerseys, has suffered because of the trade war between the US and China.
LeBron James is Griezmann’s idol
LeBron James has a big fan in Antoine Griezmann. The Frenchman loves watching the NBA and idolizes the American basketball star. When he scored his first goal for Barcelona, Griezmann celebrated by spreading his arms wide, imitating LeBron James. In response, James congratulated Griezmann on his impressive form at Barcelona.
