LeBron James, or King James as he’s known by his devoted fanbase is considered by many to be one of the best basketball players to ever grace the courts. In addition to his many accolades, awards, and honors, he was recently named Athlete of the Year by Time magazine.
Today, we’re delving into the personal life of the Los Angeles Lakers powerhouse to get to know more about his father, Anthony McClelland.
We’ll also talk about how LeBron used his turbulent childhood as a springboard to help him achieve bigger and better things.
Let’s get started.
Who Is Anthony McClelland?
Born in 1972, Anthony McClelland grew up in Akron, Ohio where he proved himself to be quite talented at playing basketball. In high school, he was in a brief relationship with Gloria Marie Jeans who was four years older than McClelland.
In 1984, when Gloria was 16, Gloria gave birth to their son, LeBron.
Because of his young age, McClelland was unable to provide support for Gloria nor for the baby they’d just had. Instead, he left her to take care of their son on her own, playing the role of both mother and father. Luckily, Gloria had the support of her mother, Freda James, her two brothers, and her grandmother.
During his entire upbringing, McClelland was never a part of their lives, nor did he offer any financial or emotional support to his son.
Where Is Anthony McClelland Now?
According to several reports, Anthony McClelland continues to live in Ohio. during his upbringing, he wasn’t able to find a stable job.
Unfortunately, he was also arrested numerous times and spent a lot of time in jail.
It’s worth noting that McClelland tried to reconcile with his son back in 2002. However, nothing came of it and LeBron didn’t replicate the gesture.
As such, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise to know that LeBron doesn’t have any memories of his father growing up. This led him to not share his surname and goes so far as to avoid talking about his father altogether.
Turning Hardships into Success
Take a look at LeBron James’ amazing ability to turn his childhood hardships into unparalleled success. For starters, he tried as hard as he could to stay on the straight and narrow and not get into trouble. Through hard work and steadfast commitment, LeBron was able to achieve his dream of being a pro basketball player.
Now, as a family man, he focuses his effort on being the best father he can be. His dedication and sacrifices have made him a role model, not just for his kids, but for millions of people around the world.
The Early Years
When the NBA star was still young, his mom had trouble keeping a steady job. This resulted in them having to constantly move from one apartment to the next.
Nevertheless, Gloria wanted desperately to give her son a stable family environment, which she couldn’t provide. This was when she decided to send him to live with a football coach named Frank Walker and his family until she could get back on her feet.
So, during the week, LeBron stayed with Walker, his wife, Pam, and their son, Frank, Jr., and two daughters. Then, on the weekends, he’d go stay with his mom. This living situation continued from when LeBron was in the fourth grade until he was in the sixth grade.
With the support and love LeBron James received from his mother, he was able to push himself to be the best he could be despite his father not being around. It seems that McClelland’s absence only fueled his son’s ambitions and motivated him to pursue his dreams.
So, LeBron worked hard, pushed himself, and excelled until all of his effort and dedication finally paid off.
Gloria and LeBron continued their friendship with the Walkers. The basketball star even opened a clothing store called Unknwn in Miami, Florida with his long-time friend and business partner, Frank Walker Jr.
LeBron’s Wife and Kids
LeBron married Savannah in 2013 and they have three kids together: LeBron ‘Bronny’ James Jr. born in 2004; Bryce Maximus born in 2007; and Zhuri Nova born in 2014.
Since he’s become a father himself, the NBA’s greatest-of-all-time (GOAT) basketball star has a new goal in mind: being there for his kids. He makes it a point to provide them with everything he didn’t have when he was growing up.
LeBron does his best to provide them with the love and support they need even when he’s on the road. He stated that he plans to spend his final NBA year on the court with his eldest son, wherever that may be. He also shows up for them and dedicates much of his time to being with his family.
His kids share his sentiments and are always posting uplifting messages for their dad on social media. They were even there to share in the celebration when LeBron became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in February 2023.
Conclusion
Not having his father, Anthony McClelland, be part of his life made growing up that much more difficult. Yet, thanks to a vast support system, starting with his mother, LeBron James was able to overcome his troubled years and carve out a niche for himself.
Today, LeBron is a household name for millions of basketball fans worldwide. Even those who aren’t big on the sport know and respect the NBA pro athlete.
