In this article, we will explore the life story of LeBron James and how Anthony McClelland, his father’s absence helped him to shape his life.
LeBron James, a legend in basketball history, is reaching remarkable heights in his career and continually struggling for greatness. Unlike his bright future, LeBron’s childhood was challenging because his father was absent.
LeBron often shared photos with his family, where his father was nowhere to be seen. This constant absence raised the question of who and where James’ father is. LeBron James’ father, Anthony McClelland, is a mystery.
Anthony McClelland is LeBron James’ biological father, born in Akron, Ohio. Anthony himself is not a public figure and had a constant criminal record in the past. Anthony is in the spotlight due to being the biological father of LeBron James, a great NBA (National Basketball Association) champion.
LeBron Raymone James, nicknamed King James, Champion of basketball history, was born in Akron, Ohio, on December 30, 1984. Gloria Marie James, mother of LeBron, got pregnant when she was just 16 years old. She claimed to have casual sex with LeBron’s father, Anthony McClelland. Anthony left Gloria alone when she got pregnant, and he did not support Gloria either financially or emotionally.
LeBron’s father was absent in his childhood, which led to a lack of structure and stability in LeBron’s life. LeBron grew up in an unstable family environment with a single mother struggling for survival and a missing father. When LeBron was growing up, and his mother Gloria was struggling to find steady work, Anthony was in and out of jail.
Anthony was not involved in his upbringing, but LeBron overcame all challenges and continued his tireless struggles to succeed.
When LeBron left school in 4th grade, his mother, Gloria, realized that her son needed a stable environment, so she decided to meet all of his needs.
Frank Walker found Gloria Marie James with her son, who was seeking resources. Walker aimed to help them and let LeBron stay at his home. Hence, LeBron became a part of the Walker family. Frank Walker was the local basketball coach; he put his efforts into helping LeBron James strengthen his foundation in basketball and eventually secure his future.
Anthony McClelland was never a part of LeBron’s life, but he took his father’s absence positively and thanked him for not being in his life. In 2014, LeBron left an Instagram message for his father and wrote that you and your absence are part of the reason for who I am today. LeBron has a loving relationship with his mother, who worked hard for him but has no connection with his father.
Anthony, who has black hair and dark brown eyes, is a 6-foot-and-7-inch, 201-centimeter-height man of Afro-American ethnicity.
According to sources, Anthony was born in the 1960s in Akron, Ohio, but his exact date of birth is not disclosed anywhere. Therefore, according to calculations, Anthony will be in his 60s in 2024.
Anthony has had legal troubles and has been arrested several times on charges of arson, theft, and other crimes. He spent most of his life in county and state prisons.
2002, Anthony faced legal implications when he tried reconnecting with his son, LeBron. Adding to his criminal record again in 2006, he was caught red-handed in drug trafficking and sentenced to 10 years.
Like Gloria, Anthony also impregnated another woman who gave birth to LeBron’s half-brother, Aaron McClelland Gamble, and he did the same as in the case of Gloria and ended up leaving the woman.
LeBron started playing basketball in an organized way in fifth grade. He participated and succeeded in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) with his three friends, Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, and Willie McGee, for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars. They named their team the “Fab Four.”
King James started his professional career in 2003 when he was selected as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft. From AAU to the NBA championship, he made many successive achievements in the sports field. Some of those are:
The Los Angeles Lakers player married in San Diego on September 14, 2013, with Savannah James, his high school sweetheart. They have 3 children: sons Bronny and Bryce and daughter Zhuri. The legend has a tight-knit bond with his family and has worked hard to be an ideal dad. This reflects that he prioritizes his family. He broke the absence cycle and is an active dad in his children’s lives.
What could be someone’s expected net worth who has spent a prominent part of his life in and out of jail? Unfortunately, Anthony was involved in illegal activities during his teenage years, so he did not bother to choose a career path, and consequently, he does not have a prominent net worth.
LeBron’s biological father, Anthony, lives in Akron, Ohio, where he and his son, LeBron, were born. He is inactive on any social media platform and keeps a low profile.
According to some sources, it’s believed that Anthony is living a crime-free life in Ohio and trying to clean up all the messes he had done in the past to maintain peace in his own and his son’s lives.
Whether Anthony McClelland, the biological father of LeBron James, was involved or not in his life, the important thing is how LeBron achieved greatness without his father’s support. Indeed, his childhood struggles and his mother’s dedication paid off, and he became a shining star in basketball.
