Lebron James parents

Gloria Marie James is a role model for many single parents in the world. She overcame lots of troubles and always put her son in the first place. And now she is an internationally popular mother, grandmother, philanthropist, and LeBron’s biggest fan. Many people ask Gloria, what her secret was. She always says that it is her faith, which supported her at each stage of her life.

Gloria James Childhood

LeBron’s mother is an Akron native, just like his maternal grandmother Freda James Howard. Gloria was also brought up by a single mom, and she had never had a father figure in her life. She was the middle child in her family. Gloria has an older brother Terry and a younger brother Curtis James, a well-known entertainer.

Gloria became a mother at the age of 16. Her mother Freda helped her with LeBron a lot. Freda used to work at the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center. She died from a sudden heart attack in 1987 just several days before LeBron’s third birthday.

Gloria James Struggles

After that Gloria faced lots of struggles. With her brothers, she put lots of effort into paying the utility bills, but they failed and lost their house. In her recent interview, Gloria said, that her Akron community helped her and little LeBron to survive. They had an unsettled lifestyle at that time and lived in the houses of Gloria’s relatives and fans.

They were so displaced, and because of that LeBron missed lots of days in school. He was 9 when he played football with his friends and was noticed by the school coach Bruce Kelker. He adopted Gloria and her son, and they resided in his house for a while.

Later Gloria crossed her ways with a basketball coach Frankie Walker. He took LeBron to his house to coach him and educate him, too. Gloria didn’t abandon her son, but she got a break from her struggles. She was working hard to solve her financial issues. That was the start of LeBron’s way to his stardom. Later Gloria rented an apartment and took her son back.

What Does LeBron’s Mother Do for a Living?

Nowadays, Gloria James is not just a proud mother, but also a philanthropist. She wants to give it back and help other people in the Akron community, who face financial and psychological troubles. She also helps kids from troubled families with education, food, and clothes.

Mrs. James is a Vice President in her son’s charity fund. In 2022, she arranged the first House of Glo All-Star Experience – the fashion event, which has already become annual.

LeBron’s Relationship with His Mother

All her troubles made Gloria sad and she couldn’t provide her son with stability. She blamed herself for those years she lived apart from her son. But now LeBron is thankful to her for everything she did for him. In his interview with Maria Shriver, he said, that Gloria gave him strength. He called his mom “the real champion”.

LeBron’s Gift to His Mother

The son is thankful to his mom and showers her with expensive gifts. One of them the athlete gave on her 54th birthday in 2022. That was a G-Wagen. The price for this powerful vehicle starts from $139,900. LeBron gave Gloria many other expensive presents, too.

Anthony McClelland: Is He LeBron’s Biological Father?

LeBron was raised by a single mother, and he has never met his biological father in person. The story of the NBA star’s dad is mysterious and covered with darkness.

In 2014 LeBron posted a message on his Instagram, where he thanked his dad “for not being there”. The athlete confessed that being abandoned by his father was part of his motivation. In that very post, Mr. James opened up, that he didn’t know anything about his dad.

Nevertheless, in 2002 LeBron’s mother Gloria told in her interview with ESPN that she was impregnated by a casual sexual partner, named Anthony McClelland. They have never spoken about the wedding nor had any emotional connection. So, Mr. McClelland abandoned LeBron before his birth. That’s why the baby boy got his mother’s surname – James.

In that very interview, Gloria said that her son’s dad was a criminal. He was arrested many times for theft and drug possession to name a few reasons. The man spent the major part of his life in prison. Probably, he has been imprisoned till now.

So, Anthony McClelland is the name, given by Gloria James, and we have to believe her. But we want to tell you about two other men, who can be LeBron’s dads.

Who is LeBron’s Biological Father? Other Versions

There’s lots of controversy surrounding LeBron’s birth. There are two other men, who can be the NBA players’ dads.

• Leicester Bryce Stovell

One of them is named Leicester Bryce Stovell, a lawyer. In 2002 James’s name had already become wildly popular, and Mr. Stovell decided to go out of the shadow. He launched a $4 million lawsuit against LeBron and his mother. He blamed Gloria for keeping him away from his son’s life. He confessed that he had an affair with 15-year-old Gloria in 1984, and she gave birth to LeBron nine months later.

The basketball star passed a DNA test, which excluded Leicester as his biological father. Still, the man didn’t believe that. He blamed Gloria and LeBron for cheating with test results.

• Roland Bivens

There was another man in Akron, Ohio, who was close to Gloria at that time. His name is Roland Bivens. Many fans believe that he is LeBron’s biological father as he looked similar to the basketball star. Bivens was a criminal. He was killed in the drive-by shooting when LeBron was just 8 years old.

So, as you see, LeBron’s father figure is a kind of mystery. The only thing that we know exactly – he has never been involved in his son’s life.

The person, who shaped LeBron and helped him mold into a sports celebrity, was Gloria James.