NBA Star LeBron James Was a ‘Nomad’ until He Was 9 and One Person Offered Him Shelter

• LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, but he had a rough start in life.
• He was homeless for most of his childhood, moving from one location to another.
• But his fate changed when he encountered someone who offered him shelter and guidance and ignited his love for basketball.

NBA player LeBron James is a well-known basketball superstar, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. A two-time Olympic gold medalist and a force to be reckoned with on the court, LeBron’s journey to becoming the NBA’s all-time top scorer is a testament to his relentless pursuit of greatness.

LeBron’s illustrious career has been marked by several milestones, but perhaps none as significant as the moment he surpassed the career NBA regular season record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

This achievement came during the 2023/24 campaign, a season that also saw him become the first man to lift the NBA Cup after leading his team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to victory against the Indiana Pacers in the final of the NBA In-Season Tournament.

But LeBron’s record-breaking feats didn’t start here. By the end of the 2022/23 season, he had amassed a staggering 38,652 regular season points and held the record for playoff points with 8,023. This brought his grand total to an impressive 46,675 career points, placing him firmly at the top of the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

On his journey to stardom, LeBron had to overcome many challenges. Born to a single mother, Gloria James, who was just 16 at the time, LeBron’s early life was marked by instability and hardship.

They lived in Gloria’s mother’s house in Akron, Ohio, but their lives took a drastic turn when LeBron’s grandmother passed away suddenly from a heart attack on Christmas Day when he was just three years old.

With no support system and lacking the necessary skills and education to get ahead, Gloria found it incredibly hard to provide for her young son. She and her two brothers did their best to keep their old, spacious house habitable, but the cost of heating was beyond their means.

At the tender age of three, LeBron and his mother found themselves seeking shelter with a neighbor, Wanda Reaves, due to the unsafe conditions of their home. Gloria and LeBron arrived at Wanda’s home with nothing more than a single suitcase and a blue stuffed elephant.

Wanda offered them a spot on her couch, marking the beginning of a six-year nomadic journey for the mother and son duo, both of whom were navigating the challenges of growing up. The loss of the house meant they had to move from one place to another, living in a state of constant uncertainty. Over three years, they moved a dozen times, a period LeBron recalls as “scary.”

By the time he was in fourth grade, LeBron had already experienced a life of constant relocation, moving from one apartment to another with Gloria. His home during this period was a couch in a one-bedroom apartment, often the site of late-night parties and police visits. Gloria, then 25, had recently left her job at Payless Shoes and was living on welfare.

She was often out, leaving LeBron to fend for himself. His days were spent skipping school, playing video games, and visiting a corner store where his snacks were paid for with his mother’s food stamps.

LeBron’s educational path during this time was filled with obstacles. In his fourth-grade year alone, he was absent from school for nearly 100 days and struggled with keeping pace academically. Despite all the turmoil he went through, he was not a troublemaker. He was well-behaved, but his frequent absences from school during fourth grade posed a significant risk.

The disruption to his education threatened his chances of academic progression and, consequently, his prospects. Gloria worked tirelessly, taking up jobs anywhere and everywhere to make ends meet. There were times when they didn’t know if they would make it to the next day.

But through it all, Gloria’s love for her son never wavered. She was his rock, providing him with a sense of security and stability amidst the chaos. When LeBron was nine years old, Gloria made a difficult decision. Recognizing that her son needed stability, she sent him to live with his pee-wee football team coach, “Big Frankie” Walker, and his family.

This decision, though difficult, was driven by her love for LeBron and her desire to provide him with the support and security she believed he needed. For LeBron, this change brought about a newfound sense of stability. For the first time, he was able to spend an entire year at the same school, sleep in the same bed every night, and play on the same football team for a full season.

This was a precious gift for LeBron. Walker even introduced him to basketball, placing him on his first team. “The Walkers were worried about my nomadic lifestyle at the tender age of nine,” penned LeBron. Despite the distance, LeBron was able to see his mother who was staying at her friend’s every weekend, maintaining their close bond.

During his stay with the Walkers, LeBron shared a room with one of their three children, Frankie Walker Jr., who was not only a teammate on his football team but also became one of his closest friends. This was LeBron’s first encounter with what he would later describe as “a real family.”

The Walkers, both hardworking individuals, with Frank employed at the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority and his wife, Pam, working in a local congressman’s office, instilled in LeBron the values of discipline and hard work. His responsibilities included cleaning the bathroom every other weekend, and his daily routine revolved around school and basketball practice.

LeBron was enrolled in Portage Path Elementary, one of Akron’s oldest schools. Despite being a low-income, inner-city school where about 90 percent of students qualified for free lunches, the school was at the forefront of implementing what the administration termed as “holistic learning.”

LeBron flourished in this environment, taking a particular liking to music, art, and gym classes. He maintained perfect attendance for the rest of that school year. When Gloria managed to rent a two-bedroom apartment with the aid of a government assistance program, LeBron moved back in with her.

They lived together until he graduated from high school. As the saying goes, the rest is history. One constant in LeBron’s life was the unwavering support of his mother, Gloria. She was his everything – his mother, his father, his rock. She prioritized him above all else.

Regardless of the circumstances, LeBron was certain that he was the most important person in her life. Even though they often lacked material possessions, he never felt insignificant or unloved. And though most people see him as a champion, Gloria is the real champion in LeBron’s eyes.

“I can handle it,” he often says. This mantra has served as his guiding light through the trials and tribulations of life. Many people often remark on LeBron’s deep devotion to his mother. This is indeed true, but it’s a reflection of her unwavering devotion to him every minute of his life. His mother instilled in him the essence of true devotion.

Inspired by Gloria, LeBron has made it his mission to give back, particularly to children growing up in single-parent homes, through initiatives like the LeBron James Family Foundation.