LeBron James is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, basketball players ever to step onto the court. Labeled “The Chosen One” as a teenager, he carried expectations that would have overwhelmed even established NBA players. While most 18-year-olds were worried about exams, LeBron was expected to become the savior of an entire franchise. More than two decades later, he is entering his 24th season and beginning a new chapter with the Philadelphia 76ers following this summer’s NBA free agency. Looking back on his career, it is safe to say that LeBron did not just meet some of the most outlandish expectations; he exceeded them.

Four NBA titles, four MVPs, 22 All-Star appearances, and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. His legacy and impact on the game is cemented, and it will live forever. But there is another part of James’ career that deserves just as much praise as the things he does on the court. We know LeBron as the “King” of basketball, but how does the King care for his kingdom? 

The LeBron James Family Foundation 

After being drafted in 2003, LeBron wasted little time giving back to the city where he grew up. The young star would help found the Lebron James Family Foundation in 2004, just one year after his NBA debut. He was determined to make the community of Akron, Ohio, a better place, hosting numerous community events over the years. In addition to the events, the foundation would donate bicycles, backpacks, and school supplies to less fortunate children. 

As LeBron’s stock continued to rise, he became basketball’s biggest star, but Akron was always a priority, impressing on the court and beginning to compete for championships, all while quietly building a future for the children of the next generation. 

The positive public perception of LeBron’s career would change forever in 2010, as he made the infamous “decision” to leave his state of Ohio for the sunny beaches of Miami. This choice made LeBron the most hated player in basketball.

His reputation became polarizing, and number 23 jerseys became kindling for fires in the streets of the town that raised him. But what was not known to the wider basketball community was how much  LeBron invested in the same streets that were questioning his morality. In 2011, one year after the decision, the LeBron James Family Foundation launched the I PROMISE program. This program expanded the foundation’s mission and began striving for something bigger than just donations and events. The I PROMISE program introduced multiple new components to the foundation that focused on housing, education, and family support. As the years went on in Miami, these new investments continued to pay off, but a change in scenery was about to come that would forever broaden the I PROMISE program. 

The Return

LeBron came home to Cleveland in 2014. Fittingly, his foundation’s initiative was called I PROMISE. While he never guaranteed a championship, he made it clear that bringing one to Northeast Ohio was his mission, telling fans in a Sports Illustrated open letter

“I’m not promising a championship. I know how hard that is to deliver. We’re not ready right now. No way. Of course, I want to win next year, but I’m realistic. It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010. My patience will get tested. I know that. I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach. I will be the old head. But I get a thrill out of bringing a group together and helping them reach a place they didn’t know they could go.” 

Two years later, he accomplished exactly that, leading the Cavaliers to the promised land with a historic comeback from a 3–1 deficit against the 73–9 Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals. The victory ended Cleveland’s 52-year major professional sports championship drought and completed what many consider the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history. While Cleveland was making history on the court,  behind the scenes LeBron was preparing for something even bigger. 

In 2018, LeBron helped open the I PROMISE School in Akron. Specifically designed for students who were at risk of falling behind, the school is more than just an academic experience; students also receive tutoring, mentorship, and extended school days. The school also supports students’ families with resources such as placement services and financial counseling, not just to help children graduate, but to change the lives of entire families. Find out more about the program by clicking the video below!

The legacy

When you look back at LeBron James’ career, several stats back up his legacy as one of the greatest of all time. Fans can look at championships, MVPs, and points scored; you can use those statistics to settle debates about who’s the best, but what fans cannot measure is how many children’s lives have been changed by a young man from Akron who never lost sight of where he started. One day, LeBron’s jersey will hang in the rafters of several arenas, his records may be broken, and future generations may argue about where  “the king” belongs in NBA history. Yet after the dust settles on the illustrious career of LeBron James, there will still be children and families who were given a second chance and whose communities were rejuvenated because of the generosity of one of basketball’s greatest stars. 

The basketball community crowned LeBron as the king, and his Hall of Fame resume backs up that coronation. But those accolades are eclipsed by his greatest achievement of all,  never forgetting to take care of his kingdom