From Poverty to Superstar: LeBron James’s Childhood

Bang! LeBron’s shot goes in as the crowd yells as loud as they can, running across the court. LeBron is the king and one of the best in the world at basketball. Being a top-world celebrity it’s hard to think that a king started off as a peasant. How did he cope with such an obstacle?

Early Life

LeBron James was born on December 30, 1984, when his mother was just 16. His dad, Anthony McClelland, had left LeBron when he was born. Therefore, he had struggled to live with just one parent. He spent a lot of time with his mom and made a great connection with her. "My mother is my everything. Always has been. Always will be," he said. By the time he was eight, he and his family had moved 12 times because they could not get a place of their own. Therefore, LeBron’s mom took every job that she could handle, often working all night. LeBron was scared that his mom would not make it home. Alcohol and drugs were a constant presence. ” It was scary but I never got into any of that stuff.

That just wasn’t me…...I knew it was wrong.” LeBron stated. Beginning Sports It was clear that LeBron had amazing talent in sports right from the beginning. When he was eight, he began playing for the football team called the East Dragons. He had scored 18 touchdowns in just 6 games. Lebron started to dream that one day he could become a professional football player in the NFL (National Football League). Around the same time, LeBron also played for the Recreation- league team called the Summit Hornets. Although LeBron liked to play football more, he also liked basketball and had a natural talent for it. He didn't know that he would, one day, be a basketball star.

The coach of the Summit Hornets, Coach Walker, started to realize that Gloria was struggling to provide a good environment for LeBron. After he had found out, Coach offered to look after him until she got more settled. Gloria accepted and LeBron moved in with the Walker family. After 1 year, when LeBron was in 6th grade he finally moved back as Gloria found a home in Spring Hill. The Shooting Stars Even though the Summit Hornets were excellent, he had to carry on. LeBron joined a new basketball team known as the Shooting Stars in 1996. The new coach, Joyce, was thrilled because he had seen LeBron’s talent in the Hornets. The Shooting Stars did good in their first season, qualifying for the AAU national tournament in Florida. They did well finishing ninth out of 64 teams. In the next year, they qualified for the tournament again, finishing tenth that time.

Ready For High School

After his time in Middle School, LeBron and his teammates in the Shooting Stars decided to go to high school together. Most people thought they would go to Buchtel High School which was where athletic black students usually go. However, the Buchtel coaches made it clear that they would not put LeBron’s teammates on the basketball varsity team if they went there.

Instead, they decided to go to a small Catholic school called Saint Vincent-Saint Mary high school. In his first day in high school when he stepped through the door, LeBron was dumbfounded to see so many whites walking around the school. “I came through that door and thought, ‘this might be a problem, “‘ he said. LeBron didn’t know anything about their culture or activity or lifestyle. He was uncomfortable at first, but he got accustomed to it later on. The students also started to accept LeBron and his friends as well.

The Basketball Court and Football Field

LeBron at 6 foot 4 inches and 170 pounds, had everything he required to be a great football player; he joined the Saint Vincent-Saint Mary’s football team and did well. He caught eight passes in a single game. After the exciting football season, LeBron and his friends did what they had come to do in this high school. They proceeded to the basketball court under the direction of coach Dambrot. LeBron was shocked when the kind coach he had known in his childhood had turned into a “strict madman.” LeBron at first, thought that it was a mistake going to Saint Mary but later on realized that he was good for the game. A reporter had nicknamed LeBron and his teammates The Fab Four. In LeBron’s first season he had averaged 18 points per game but his coaches were not satisfied. They felt that it could be higher. LeBron led his team to an undefeated regular - season record in just his freshman year. The team went to the state championship where thousands of people were sitting to watch. LeBron’s team defeated Greeneview High to give Saint Mary their first championship in 16 years. The next year, LeBron was again on the football field where he would have an amazing season. By the end of the season, major football colleges were wanting to recruit LeBron to play for them after his graduation. As his high school career was starting to end he got more and more attention; therefore, he was named Ohio’s Mr. Basketball (best high school player of the year) three times in high school.

Life right now

LeBron is now one of the best and richest basketball players in the world: He has signed a 4 -year $154 million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. He has won various MVP (most valuable player) awards and became an all-star multiple times. He has won 2 NBA finals and is always ready for his next game. He went from poverty to living a lively and lovely life.

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