via Reuters
Days after Gloria James congratulated her grandson, Bronny James for entering the 2024 NBA Draft, she drops exclusive insights about the Chosen One. During a special behind-the-scenes tour of LeBron James‘ museum, Gloria addressed everything, from his favorite TV shows to lamps, with Good Morning America. As LBJ nears 40, he continues to garner global success, on and off the court, showering a lot of it on Gloria and his family.
The 4-time champion ensures to credit his Heaven-Sent Angel in every chance he gets. Gloria gave birth to LeBron when she was 16 (1984). She was a single parent, struggling to find stable jobs at the time; while raising her 10-year-old brother. However, from the bottom of her heart, she knew that James was destined for greatness. “I really felt that LeBron was different in my belly,” Gloria responds to a question about noticing the NBA icon’s caliber. “In junior high school, high school, he just confirmed it”.
However, before the cameras around LBJ helped his athletic career, Gloria put in years of tumultuous work. Despite the scuffles of maintaining a lifestyle for her son, Gloria managed to imbibe respectable values in LeBron. Ones that make him a family man and an athlete youngsters around the globe look up to, despite having the wealth of an extravagant recluse. His mother believes the legacy will be sustained through “the works that he’s done off the court, for the community. Our I PROMISE school.”
With that, while she continues to inspire LeBron James to “always stay true to himself” and “remain humble,” she also shares the load for LeBron’s off-court ventures. She is the Vice President of the LeBron James Family Foundation and has made prominent contributions to orchestrating LeBron James’ Home-Court, the museum.
All about LeBron James’ museum
“I used to get on my mom a lot about saving everything since I was like starting first playing sports,” James said in an ESPN interview. However, just like predicting James’ unparalleled success, it seems Gloria manifested LeBron’s greatness since Day 1. “A lot of the [items] in there is because of the stuff that she [Gloria] saved,” LeBron highlighted her mother’s first-hand contribution to his museum.
The Akron, Ohio museum offers an immersive experience of LeBron James’ upbringing. It features a remake of his childhood apartment where visitors can lay their eyes on his bedroom, speakers, sports magazines, posters, trophies, TV, computer, and other items. It also exhibits a replica of James’ St. Vincent-St. Mary High School’s locker room and a chunk of their basketball court. Fans also get a key to open a door number 602, similar to the one James had during his growing years.
However, the museum captures more. It also harbors the iconic white suit James displayed during his 2003 NBA draft, alongside an array of game-worn signature shoes. Moreover, the museum also gives an insider look at James’ philanthropic life. The Foundation’s Executive Director, Michelle Campbell, once spoke about the “whole legacy” and the journey of using this infrastructure as a “platform to do more and better for others.” All the earnings from the ticket sales of the museum go directly to I PROMISE Foundation.
Fans can visit the museum from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Saturday with a $23 ticket, with cost-free entry for children up to 5 years old.
