LeBron James was already making headlines at just 17. But his private thoughts were much different than the public hype. A resurfaced interview from 2002 shows that his biggest motivation had very little to do with winning games.

James was a senior at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, and he was already appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The media called him "The Chosen One," and scouts were already calling him the future of the NBA. 

When asked about his future and what he hoped to achieve, he didn't talk about championships or MVP trophies first. Instead, he said, “I look at my goal and my dream as two different things. My dream is to see my mother happy every day, but my goal…is to get to the NBA.”

Gloria Marie James was only 16 years old when she gave birth to her son on December 30, 1984. She had to raise him on her own as a teenage single mother in Akron.

James' grandmother passed away on Christmas Day, and the family lost their home shortly after. This started a period of instability for Gloria and her young son. They moved 12 times in just 3 years and stayed with different relatives or friends.

James has stated many times that he never felt the absence of a father because his mother was "mother and father" to him.

One moment during his high school showed that their bond was stronger than any amount of money.

How LeBron James’ Mother Helped Him Take the Biggest Decision of His Life

In 2003, before the NBA Draft, the biggest shoe brands were trying to make a deal with James. Reebok offered a check for $10 million. It was a signing bonus, but James had to sign right then and there without talking to Nike or Adidas.

For a family that was still living in Section 8 housing at the time, $10 million was a life-changing amount of money. James said that his mother’s eyes watered up when she saw the check. However, she advised her son to "trust his gut." 

James walked away from the $10 million and then signed a $90 million deal with Nike that has now become a billion-dollar lifetime contract.

This story shows that while basketball was the goal, his family was always the priority. He often calls her his "champion" and credits her for giving him the strength to handle the pressures of fame.

He knew that scoring points in the NBA was just a job, but taking care of his mother was his true purpose. What is the second-best motivation in James’ life after his mother? Let us know in the comments. 

What are your thoughts? Tell us in the comments.

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Utsav Gupta