LeBron James Emotionally Opens Up, Explains How Feelings Toward Father Changed

LeBron James did not have a happy childhood. He was raised by a single mom, Gloria, and had to go through many problems as a kid. LeBron was too young to learn how things in this world work, but he managed to grow into one of the most successful athletes ever. LeBron did not have a father figure in his life, and he spent most of his childhood in resenting him.

The king of basketball opened up about his dad in an episode of ‘The Shop.’ LeBron is one of the producers of the show, and now it is on HBO.

“My whole life I grew up resenting my father. Everything was like, “F*** pops.” He left me, why would he do that to my mom? My mom was 16 years old, she was a sophomore in high school when she had me. If I ever met him, he would be going to blows, right off top,” King James said.

“As I got older and became more of an adult, I started to think myself, ‘What was he going through? Was it things he couldn’t control? He’s the reason I’m the father I am today because I wanted to be there, to set an example and be a father figure in their lives so they didn’t have that resentment,” he added.

Lakers' LeBron James on his father, on HBO's 'The Shop'…

"My whole life I grew up resenting my father. Everything was like, 'F— pops.' He left me, why would he do that to my mom? … He's the reason I'm the father I am today." pic.twitter.com/lJaEVIBDdK

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) October 13, 2018

LeBron is a father of three gorgeous kids, Bronny, Bryce Maximus and Zhuri Nova. He promised to never disappoint them, and that’s exactly what he was talking about during his interview with Jeanne Marie Laskas in 2014.

King James used the damage his father caused as a fuel. “Like, ‘Wow, Dad, you know what, I don’t know you, I have no idea who you are, but because of you is part of the reason who I am today.’ The fuel that I use—you not being there—it’s part of the reason I grew up to become who I am. It’s part of the reason why I want to be hands-on with my endeavors. And be able to put my guys that’s with me now in position. Like Maverick Carter, my right-hand guy in my business. Rich Paul, my agent. Randy Mims, my friend—he’s my manager, you know. So me in a position allowing people around me to grow, that maybe wouldn’t have happened if I had two parents, two sisters, a dog, and a picket fence, you know?” he said.

Everything happens for a reason.