Due to Anthony McClelland’s frequent absence and lack of payment for child support, James was left with minimal support from his father.
Gloria James, the proud mother of NBA superstar LeBron James, embraces her title as the “Mother of the King” and displays a tattoo on her arm that reads “Queen James.” Despite her son’s legendary status in the league, Gloria has not lost her unassuming nature. In a Q&A session at LeBron’s I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, she humbly stated that she is a simple and approachable person who believes in lending an ear, a shoulder to cry on, or a hug to those in need. Gloria, who raised LeBron as a single mother, continues to play a crucial role in his life, both professionally and personally. According to an interview with Maria Shriver of Today in 2014, LeBron attributed much of his success to his mother, who provided him with unwavering love and support, acting as both mother and father throughout his life.
In his words, he marvelled at how she found the strength to say what she did. Gloria James is the remarkable athlete who raised basketball sensation LeBron. She gave birth to him at the tender age of 16 in Akron, Ohio, the younger sister of Terry James and Curt James. According to Sports Illustrated, LeBron never met his biological father and was mostly raised by Gloria and her brothers after his grandmother, Freda James Howard, passed away when he was three. They moved seven times before he turned five, and when they couldn’t afford to heat the house, LeBron missed 82 days of school and lived with a foster family. Gloria had to shoulder a lot of responsibility as a single mother, but she did her best to provide for her son, never pressuring him to become a professional athlete. She merely wanted him to be happy and finish high school with his peers. LeBron’s coach remembered Gloria being an enthusiastic fan who never caused any trouble.
An investigation has been conducted on the SUV that was gifted by LeBron’s mother, Gloria. Back in 2002, she gifted him a Hummer with televisions and video game console hookups for his 18th birthday. The purchase was deemed suspicious as they were known to have previously resided in Akron’s public housing. In Ohio, high school athletes could lose their amateur status if they received gifts or money of monetary value. However, LeBron was cleared of any wrongdoing after investigations. Gloria is currently the vice president of the LeBron James Family Foundation, which helps disadvantaged children in Akron, Ohio. The foundation’s biggest achievement is the I Promise School, which is supported by Gloria’s tireless efforts to provide a stable upbringing for LeBron. She is also a doting grandmother to LeBron’s three children and is frequently seen attending their basketball games and posting pictures of them on Instagram.
Observing my grandsons grow into respectable young men both on and off the basketball court brings me immense joy. In April 2022, I shared images of myself at their tournaments, expressing my pride and love for them on social media. My granddaughter Zhuri and I have also shared many heartwarming moments together, such as our visits to Disneyland and Universal Studios. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, LeBron missed me the most. He struggled to maintain social distance from me, and during a press conference in July 2020, he revealed that it was the longest period he had gone without seeing me. Thankfully, my optimistic outlook helped him through quarantine, and we were reunited soon enough. After winning his fourth NBA title in October 2020, LeBron’s first call was to me on FaceTime, where he expressed his gratitude and appreciation for everything I had been through. A video of him sharing this moment with me has since gone viral on Twitter, and I am so proud of my son’s accomplishments.