Rick Leddy - Lebron James: The King of the Game

LeBron James The King of the Game Copyright 2015.

All rights reserved to Sole Books Beverly Hills.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from Sole Books. For information regarding permission write to Sole Books, P.O. Box 10445, Beverly Hills, CA 90213.

A special thank you to Yonatan, Yaron, and Guy Ginsberg.

Cover design: Omer Pikarski

Front cover picture: AP Photo/Tony Dejak

Back cover picture: Mark L. Baer, USA TODAY Sports

Series editor: Y Ginsberg

Proof editor: Michele Caterina

Page layout design: Lynn M. Snyder

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data available.

Ebook-ISBN: 978-1-938591-26-6

Published by Sole Books, Beverly Hills, California

Printed in the United States of America

First edition March 2015

10987654321

www.solebooks.com

Duck! Little LeBron screamed as he rushed toward the basket. LeBrons mother, Gloria, smiled sadly. A tear was rolling down her cheek, but she couldnt help but smile. LeBron was having such a good time. Each time he yelled, Dunk! it sounded like he was shouting, Duck!

She was so happy and so sad at the same time. She wanted to pick up three-year-old LeBron, squeeze him hard, and never let him go, but she knew he would only want to wriggle free of her grasp, grab his toddler basketball, and yell, Duck! again, before tearing off toward the miniature basket to slam the ball through the hoop.

The living room in her mothers Hickory Street home in Akron was in disarray; torn wrapping paper and toys were strewn about like a tornado had hit the inside of the house. Gloria didnt have much, but what she did have she showered on little Bron. As she watched her little boy approach the plastic hoop and slam the basketball over and over again, Gloria couldnt help but wonder at the tenacity of this toddler. He had a drive that made him want to repeat something until he was happy with the result.

Eddie Jackson, her boyfriend, sidled next to her as she watched LeBron.

I never seen a kid that little able to do that. Eddie whispered.

Gloria looked up at Eddie and buried her head in his shoulder. The strain of the day was showing on her face.

Why? Why didnt Mama ever tell us she was so sick? she sobbed.

Eddie kissed her on the forehead. I dont know, Glo. Your mama was so busy taking care of all of us that she didnt take time to look after herself.

Eddie was the one who had discovered Glorias mother, LeBrons grandma, slumped on the kitchen floor at three oclock that morning. And it was Eddie who had gathered Freda in his arms, gently rocking her back and forth, staying with her until the ambulance came.

Freda James had been the rock of the family. She was the one who looked after Gloria and her two brothers. It may not have been the best neighborhood in Akron, but the residents took pride in their houses and the house on Hickory Street was Fredas kingdom. It was Freda who made sure there was always a roof over her childrens heads. When Gloria, who was only 16 years old, had LeBron, Freda took in her grandson without a complaint. She took care of him while Gloria went back to high school. He was a James and that was that. And she loved that little boy.

Eventually, she had even taken in Eddie, who was Glorias boyfriend. With Freda, you didnt have to be family to be family. Family was just something that was waiting to happen. And now she was gone. Just like that. On this very Christmas morning.

Look at Bron. So happy, Gloria said, wiping tears from her eyes.

Eddie wrapped his arm around her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. You did that boy right. You gave Bron Christmas. I know how hard this is for you.

Mama wouldnt have stood for nothing else, Gloria said. I can just hear what she wouldve said if we canceled Christmas for that little boy.

LeBron ran up to Gloria and Eddie, his new basketball squeezed tightly between his hands.

Eddie! Mama! Watch me duck! LeBron squealed.

Eddie turned away and looked down at LeBron. Cmon, Bron. Lets see what you got!

LeBron suddenly pulled away from Eddie and ran straight to the basket in the living room. He jumped and slammed the little basketball through the hoop. He then turned around and flashed a broad smile at Eddie.

Ducked on you! he giggled.

Eddie just laughed.

Gloria walked through the kitchen and left the house out the back door. The December air was cold. She hugged herself, and looked up at the sky.

I promise Ill take care of Bron, Mama. Hes my baby. Ill raise him right. Youll see, she thought.

The cold was stinging her face, and she could hear LeBron laughing and screaming inside. She went back into the house, the weight of the world heavy on her, wondering what the future would hold.

Hey, LeBron. You here for what I think youre here for? the shopkeeper asked from behind the counter as eight-year-old LeBron entered the tiny corner store crowded with a mish-mash of goods.

LeBron smiled broadly. He walked over to a colorful section of shelved goods and drew out a box of his favorite cereal. He looked at the front of the box. There was Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble, right where they belonged.

LeBron loved Fruity Pebbles. He especially loved them because there was usually something free inside the box.

Actually, if LeBron had his choice, he would be going to Swensons every day instead of to this dingy store for food and snacks. He would have a cheeseburger and wash it down with a chocolate malt. But the closest Swensons was way up off Route 8, so it was too far to walk alone from the one-bedroom Elizabeth Park apartment where his mother and he were currently staying. Besides, Swensons didnt take food stamps, so that was kind of a problem. This store would have to do for now.

LeBron walked over to the clerk, put the box down on the counter, and dug into his pocket for the food stamps his mother had left him to buy his cereal and snacks with. He was conducting the transaction with the quiet confidence of an old pro.

While the clerk waited for LeBron to fish the food stamps from his pocket he asked, Aint you supposed to be in school?

LeBron sighed. The clerk always asked him the same question and he always gave him the same answer.

Im home schooled, LeBron answered seriously.

Uh, huh the clerk said dubiously.

LeBron knew that the clerk knew he wasnt home schooled, but they had to go through this routine for the day to be set right, so he did it. LeBron was supposed to be in school but he didnt feel like going today. Hed been to so many different schools he figured that nobody would really miss him if he didnt show up.

He quietly put the food stamps on the counter. The clerk completed the cereal transaction. LeBron grabbed the Pebbles and started to head out of the store.

You stay out of trouble now, the clerk told LeBron as he was leaving.

I will, LeBron answered without looking back.

And LeBron meant it. There was trouble in all of the Akron neighborhoods he had lived in and he wanted no part of that. Gloria would always try to reassure him by saying, You and me, Bron Bron. Were a team. You cant never break up a winning team like us.

Later that afternoon, when Gloria came back to the tiny apartment, she saw LeBron on the couch, playing video games.