It’s official: LeBron James is the leading scorer in NBA history. In February, he topped a record that had been held by another Los Angeles Laker, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, since 1984. With basketball season now over, and with another year ahead ripe for making more history, theGrio is taking a look at everything about King James, from his personal life to his activism to his storied athletic career.
Early life
LeBron Raymone James was born on Dec. 30, 1984, in Akron, Ohio. He was raised by his mother, Gloria Marie James. She was only 16 years old when she gave birth, and she had no help from LeBron’s father, Anthony McClelland. For a brief time, Gloria raised LeBron alongside her own mother, but when her mother died, she raised him with help from her brothers. At one point, LeBron was placed in foster care because they were unable to pay their heating bill.
While the James family was still struggling to find stability, so much so that LeBron had missed over half of the school days in fourth grade, the Walker family stepped in. Frank Walker was coaching the peewee football team that an 8-year-old LeBron James played on, and he became aware of the living situation LeBron and his mother were facing. The Walkers took LeBron in until his mother was in a more stable place. Although LeBron was able to move back in with his mother in sixth grade, he stayed in touch with the Walkers and visited them on weekends.
High school career
LeBron James started playing sports at a young age, but he skyrocketed to fame during his high school career. He played basketball at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School and helped his team become state champions in three out of the four years he was there. He was the first-ever sophomore to be asked onto the USA Today All-USA First Team, and by his junior year, he was being called “The Chosen One” by Sports Illustrated. In 2003, he was the first-round draft pick for the Cleveland…
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