LeBron James’ mother gave birth to him as a teenager, and life hasn’t always been smooth for the NBA superstar and his family. The gifted athlete moved frequently during his formative years and even lived with his football coach for a time. James often speaks about the strength and support he received from his single mother, Gloria, though much less is known about his father.
James leaned heavily on his mother growing up, as his father, Anthony McClelland, was largely absent from his life. While many might have reacted negatively, the Ohio native instead used his father’s absence as motivation.
James Once Shared a Powerful Message for His Absent Father
It became clear early on that James was a phenomenal talent, destined to be in the spotlight. He excelled as a high school athlete and was selected No. 1 overall in the 2003 NBA Draft.
Now 40 years old, James has won four NBA championships, three Olympic medals, four MVP awards, and has been named to the All-Star team a record 21 times.
In a surprising twist, James once thanked his father in a 2014 Instagram post, sharing a powerful message:
“Like, ‘Wow, Dad, you know what, I don’t know you, I have no idea who you are, but because of you is part of the reason who I am today.’ The fuel that I use—you not being there—it’s part of the reason I grew up to become who I am. It’s part of the reason why I want to be hands-on with my endeavors.”
James added that his father’s absence taught him the value of being present for others.
“So me in a position allowing people around me to grow—that maybe wouldn’t have happened if I had two parents, two sisters, a dog, and a picket fence, you know?”
James has since become one of the biggest names in sports. According to Sportico, he is the fourth-highest-paid athlete of all time (adjusted for inflation). The Los Angeles Lakers guard is also widely respected for his philanthropy, most notably through the LeBron James Family Foundation.
James is married to Savannah James, and the couple has three children. He’s known for being a hands-on father and is often seen cheering his kids on at their events.
His oldest son, Bronny, was selected by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft. Last year, they became the first-ever father-son duo to play together in an NBA game.
