Standing at the pinnacle of basketball glory, but for superstar Lebron James, that is not what makes him the most proud.
LeBron James is the number one basketball player in the world today. That is not debatable. The superstar of the Los Angeles Lakers has conquered almost every glory a basketball player can dream of. From NBA champion, MVP here as well as two Olympic gold medals for the land of the flag in Beijing 2008 and London 2012. However, all that glory is not what makes the son of Akron most proud.
The titles he has achieved in his career are not what Lebron James is most proud of.
If it’s not 17 All-Star appearances or a net worth that has surpassed $1 billion, what could it be? Is LeBron James most proud of his contributions to the community, such as raising funds for charity, opening schools in his hometown, or even making a foray into Hollywood? All are wrong answers. The greatest pride, according to the former Cleveland Cavaliers star himself, is none other than his family, or more specifically, being a father.
LeBron James recently teamed up with the non-profit organization The Dad Gang and the retailer Walmart to spread the message and educate about family. The target audience of the three parties is none other than black fathers. This is a group that is often considered by American society as irresponsible for their own decisions when abandoning their 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren and the women who gave 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to them.
Black men are often stereotyped as bad fathers.
In his message, LeBron James did not mention his achievements in basketball, movies, advertising or business. The only things the Los Angeles Lakers star shared were his happiness in being the breadwinner for his family.
“For me, being a father is the ultimate pride. Seeing my 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren grow up and gradually become individuals with very unique nuances. Since I was a 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥, I only wished to see my father one day so that I could have someone to teach and guide me. My job forces me to be away from my family a lot. The biggest challenge for me is nothing other than being able to be with my family in any way. There is nothing in life that can surpass my pride in being a father.”
LeBron James shares beautiful message about pride in fatherhood
LeBron James knows better than anyone the importance of a father in the family. The player who is compared to Michael Jordan was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 into poverty when his mother, Gloria Marie James, was only 16 years old. What’s even sadder is that his father, Anthony McClelland, was a criminal and was never present in the life of the basketball superstar later on. The days of constantly having to move apartments due to not having enough money for rent made “King James” realize deep down that he would have to take good care of his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren.
According to the 2018 National Living Conditions Report, 69.4% of black 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren are 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 to single mothers. For 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 to unmarried parents, the figure is even higher at 72%. These are alarming statistics about unplanned 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡s and partly show the irresponsibility of some black men.
Life with single mom Anthony McClelland teaches LeBron James how to be a good dad
LeBron James is really doing something meaningful for the community. At the same age as “King James”, Michael Jordan owns the giant Jordan shoe brand, but his junior decided to use the money to build a school in his hometown. And now with The Dad Gang project currently underway, it is clear that the Lakers player deserves the title of “King” in the hearts of fans.
