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People Are Saying LeBron James Is a Bad Father - Here's Why They're Wrong
Family

People Are Saying LeBron James Is a Bad Father - Here's Why They're Wrong

LeBron James's son, 18-year-old Bronny, suffered a cardiac arrest yesterday while on court during a USC Basketball workout. The eldest son of the basketball legend is now out of the ICU and in "stable condition."After previously being called out as a bad father for certain behaviour, LeBron sets the record straight. LeBron has always been a central figure in his family and it's time to take a look at the amazing father he really is.*This article was originally published on July 15, 2021.Shame if you do, shame if you don’t. That’s a lesson LeBron James learned the hard way following a momentous occasion involving his young son Bronny. The demanding, judgmental nature of social media has become so intimidating over the last couple of years that public figures can’t make a single move without explaining their decision-making. They’re staring down the barrel of targeted vilification and censure at every waking moment, and if they’re not able to justify their actions well ahead of time, they’re in trouble. It only takes one ill-timed rumor to topple your entire career and tarnish your reputation. LeBron had to reckon with similarly misguided assumptions over two years ago when he attended his son’s basketball tournament. What was supposed to be a celebratory affair among the James family quickly turned into a contentious ruckus casting doubt on LeBron’s integrity and capabilities as a father. Here’s how the situation unfolded and why LeBron became labeled as a ‘bad father.'LeBron received flak for making a “spectacle” out of himself at his son’s basketball gameIn July 2019, LeBron accompanied his 14-year-old son, LeBron Raymone "Bronny" James Jr., to an AAU basketball tournament in Las Vegas. It’s nothing short of a miraculous stroke of luck to have LeBron James himself spectating a basketball game. As anticipated, people were curious to see how LeBron would conduct himself on the sidelines and comport himself at a basketball meetup that didn’t feature him as the MVP. Well, the Ohio native didn’t disappoint. He donned his kicks and jumped into the pre-game layup lines to shoot some hoops. His incredible throwdowns — captured vividly on camera — galvanized the crowd and gave them something to be fired up over. It’s not every day that you have LeBron James participate in a warmup routine at a youth basketball matchup, so if you’re fortunate enough to see the man in action, savor the moment. Unfortunately, savor, they did not. The video went viral and caused quite a stir across traditional news and social media, eliciting accusations of ‘showboating’ on LeBron’s part. Many critics lambasted his activities on the court, condemning the basketball star for engaging in what they deem as undignified and inappropriate behavior. They also took issue with his loud cheering, especially his ballistic demeanor in the wake of his son’s game-winning slam dunk. According to The Washington Post, Jason Whitlock, the host of Fox Sports 1′s “Speak for Yourself” segmented, voiced his opinion on LeBron’s layups, saying that the Lakers’ champion should be staying in his own lane and not make a “spectacle” of himself. He alleges that LeBron leveraged his son’s moment in the sun to build his “social media brand.” The commentator told his followers that parents shouldn’t “allow their thirst for fame to distract from or exaggerate their child’s performance.”Barring an extraordinary leap of rationale on Whitlock’s part, it’s futile to expect a personality as animated and expressive as LeBron to suppress his natural energy. Besides, live sports can instigate a wide range of emotions in the most stoic of individuals, so there’s nothing wrong with LeBron boldly enlivening the mood and egging his son on. He reveals the tragic reason he’s so involved in his children’s livesWhat LeBron’s detractors don’t realize is that there’s a particular reason why the athlete prefers to take such a hands-on approach to parenthood. His dad had a number of criminal charges to his name and wasn’t in the picture, causing LeBron to grow up feeling helplessly incomplete and resentful. The absence of a solid paternal figure hurt him deeply, so he promised himself that he wouldn’t dare put his own children through the same ordeal. I wanted to have kids early, to prove to my father that the way you did it was the absolute wrong way to do it, and I wanted to break the mold to where I want to be there and give them all the life skills. LeBron James on UNINTERRUPTED The 36-year-old essentially took an oath to do right by his children and support them however he could. That’s partly why he wanted his eldest to bear his own name; it was about conferring respect and passing on the values that matter to him a great deal. He obviously can’t guarantee that his children would follow the exact path he’s envisioned for them, but he can hope that they’ll be able to appreciate the “life skills” he’s trying to instill in them. LeBron will do his best to ensure his kids are able to “experience things that [he] didn’t experience” and that they’re able to seize the opportunities by the horns and succeed in whichever field they decide to pursue. LeBron admits that he can only give them the “blueprint” and lay the groundwork; “it’s up to them to take their own course, whenever that time comes.”Setting a positive example for his children isn’t just about breaking the mold that’d been put in place by his dad. LeBron legitimately believes that the responsibilities associated with fatherhood allow him to flourish as a ballplayer. For example, he described each of his children as having distinct, divergent personalities that he must cater to in his unique ways; similarly, he must adjust his mode of communication when interacting with his teammates to get the best out of them. When I talk about patience, it comes back to being a father [...] It comes back to that patience of learning their mindsets, learning how you can get the most out of them, what triggers them to be their best, and what triggers them to not be their best. You learn that over time.LeBron James on The Tim Ferriss ShowThe expression of love is as unique as the love itselfA parent’s love and pride is a rare thing to capture, so no parent should be ashamed for how they choose to convey their depth of love and admiration for their children’s accomplishments. As long as you’re respectful of others in your space and that the recipient of your love is in agreement, you should feel free to express your love however you please. More importantly, your way will be unique to you; it doesn’t matter how it stacks up against someone else’s behavior. Embrace your peculiarities and instincts, and the rest will work itself out. More inspiring stories:LeBron James and Savannah Brinson Grew From High School Sweethearts to Lifelong Partners5 Life-Changing Books That Inspired LeBron James to Keep WinningOctavia Spencer Reveals LeBron James Helped Her Negotiate What ‘She Deserves’ for Her Upcoming Netflix SeriesThe Empowering Truth Behind John Cena and Dwayne Johnson’s Feud

LeBron James Shares the Nighttime Routine That Helps Him Stay at His Highest Level of Performance
Self-Development

LeBron James Shares the Nighttime Routine That Helps Him Stay at His Highest Level of Performance

A lot of highly successful people will say how they maintain productive days by starting the day early -- but LeBron James is expanding on that by sharing how important it is for him to also get to bed early. LeBron James recently appeared on an episode of podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show," and explained that he always insists on getting eight hours of sleep each night. “That's the best way for your body to physically and emotionally be able to recover and get back to 100 percent as possible. Now, will you wake up and feel 100 percent? There are some days you don't. So some days you feel better than others. But the more, and more, and more time that you get those eight -- if you can get nine, that's amazing." And if you can improve on nine hours? That’s even better says James, who says he sometimes even gets 10 hours of sleep, and if he feels like he needs more sleep during the day, he’ll work in breaks for naps. Creating an environment conducive to rest His trainer, Mike Mancias, agrees that lots of rest is important for performance. "Without giving everybody all of our secrets, No. 1 is be very, very comfortable in that room," he says. "Create an environment. For LeBron, it's always in his hotel room, making sure the temperature's set at a particular – probably 68 to 70 degrees is probably optimal." Mancias says that this rest is achieved in darkness -- that means no telephone or buzzing smartphones lighting up. "Just turn everything off probably a half hour to 45 minutes before you actually want to go to sleep, and just really committing yourself to that," he says. It’s not all about darkness and ideal temperature though. James uses the Calm sleep app to help him get the rest he needs. "I'm the guy who picks 'rain on leaves,'" he says. "That's what goes on on my phone throughout the night." James is always active, even in the off season, and that includes a great deal of training. However, nothing he does is as important as getting enough rest. "I could do all the ice bags and the NormaTecs and everything that we do, that we have as far as our recovery package, while I'm up," he says. "But when you get in that good sleep, you just wake up, and you feel fresh. You don't need an alarm clock. You just feel like, 'Okay. I can tackle this day at the highest level.'" LeBron James is an inspiration to many, and provides an important reminder here. No matter how busy you are, an important part of success is knowing when to take a break and take care of yourself.

LeBron James Might Have Just Dropped the Best Leadership Advice You'll Ever Get
Skills

LeBron James Might Have Just Dropped the Best Leadership Advice You'll Ever Get

LeBron James has long been respected as a leader both in basketball and in his private life. Turns out, he has some amazing life and leadership advice to give as well. In an hourlong interview on Tim Ferriss's podcast, LeBron James shared some leadership advice. “Leadership isn't a one-day, two-days, or two-month thing, leadership is consistent ... Once you get into team sports and you see how you are succeeding, you understand it isn't about you. In order for you to continue to be successful, everyone has to be important and have something to do with the success.” We’ve seen James as a leader on and off the basketball court, but we’ve also seen that along with being a leader, he’s part of a team. And that’s his advice right there, to be consistent as a leader, but also help those on your team so you can achieve more together. Consistency No one can respect a leader who keeps changing his beliefs. A leader should be consistent in his principles so that his team does not have doubt and mistrust about where they stand. It isn't just about you A team is just that – a team. It’s not all about you. It’s about understanding your actions are going to impact everyone else, and you should help everyone become the best version of themselves they can be, and that makes you a great leader. Maybe that’s why LeBron James is so great on the court, but such an amazing off the court as well.

5 Daily Habits to Steal From LeBron James, Including His Powerful Anti-Stress Ritual
Self-Development

5 Daily Habits to Steal From LeBron James, Including His Powerful Anti-Stress Ritual

As a digital nomad and journalist, I travel the world while logging around 70 articles a month. To effectively manage a country-hopping lifestyle while also building my bylines and clients, I turn to the advice of seasoned movers-and-shakers who have developed habits and strategies for success. Each week, I’ll highlight the daily routine of influential professionals, making for the right kind of fodder while you down your coffee. American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers and household name, LeBron James doesn’t just shoot and score… he does it on repeat. For more than a decade, LeBron has experienced monumental success, earning him multiple awards including four NBA Most Valuable Player awards, three NBA Finals MVP awards, two Olympic gold medals, three All-Star Game MVP awards—and the list goes on. RELATED: LeBron James Says Never to Take Anyone’s Advice – Use This to Succeed Instead Since his humble beginnings in Ohio and his first breakout in the sport playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, he moved quickly and surely up the ranks, earning him a spot as one of the most influential and celebrated basketball players—and athletes—of all time. Married to his high school sweetheart and a father of two daughters, he maintains a healthy, active and family-filled lifestyle, keeping him grounded and productive. While you might never be able to slam dunk or dribble quite as expertly as James, you can steal some of his wellness-centric habits, all of which you can mimic in your own day-to-day routine. He sleeps… a lot. You’ve heard your doctor remind you time and time again: sleep is never, ever a question. It is always essential, no matter if you’re stressed at work, dealing with noisy neighbors or a new parent. James takes this prescriptive advice to heart, and um, then some. According to an interview, James is known to have sleeping habits that match his height, collecting an average of 12 hours of shut-eye a day. How does this balance out? He reaps the recommended eight hours each night, and then takes a much-needed three-hour nap after his fitness regimen of the day is finished. There is no exception to this rule, either: “...for my 13-year career, I’ve taken a nap for the most part every day—and for sure on game days.” He listens to his body. Regardless if you chat with a yoga teacher or a boxing instructor, they’ll all stress the value of learning to listen to your body. James abides by this mantra too, once saying, “The body is the number one thing. It’s the temple. We always listen to the body. If you don’t listen to the body, it will fail you.” Whether he’s training in the morning, juicing in the afternoon or taking that daily nap, the ability to anticipate and understand the specific requirements of your limbs, muscles and organs is an acquired skill set. When you do this, science says you are more likely to anticipate questionable shifts, identify changes and be at the forefront of recognizing symptoms before they become serious. He drinks a ton of water. Considering our bodies are primarily made of water, it’s no surprise we need so much of it to function at our best potential. But if you lead a heavy fitness lifestyle, like James, you need even more than the typical person. In an interview, James revealed he’s a “big believer in water” who starts the day with two big glasses and continues to drink as much as he can up until the time he tucks himself in. The benefits of consistent hydration are massive: from protecting you from illness and boosting your immune system to providing you with stronger mental clarity and a calmer spirit, subscribe to the mindset that when in doubt, chug up. He invests in quality time with his family. While many aspiring athletes look up to James for his amazing skills and kind attitude, he didn’t have a father figure growing up. This was difficult for James, and something that fitness helped him overcome. When he became a father to his own children, he vowed to spend as much quality time with them as he could. No matter how hectic or demanding his schedule is, James is a dedicated dad who often brags about his girls. This level of commitment to your kin is not only obviously beneficial to their own happiness, but to your own, according to numerous studies. He uses music to unwind. One day he’s dribbling, another he’s flying. He’s training today, competing in a game tomorrow. Being a professional basketball player is no-doubt a stressful and busy lifestyle, so it makes sense why James would need an outlet to help him decompress. His go-to coping mechanism? Music! His favorites include Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Eminem and other jams. His dedication to music was part of why he became an early investor in the $3 billion-dollar company, Beats. Music is effective for productivity, happiness, sleep… and well, anything and everything. Considering there is a playlist for everything these days, take a page out of James’s playbook and load one up for yourself.

LeBron James Says Never to Take Anyone's Advice - Use This to Succeed Instead
Skills

LeBron James Says Never to Take Anyone's Advice - Use This to Succeed Instead

We all look to our mentors for advice. They've been where we are now and have their own successes and failures that we'd be silly not to try and learn from. But what if the advice based on their own experiences doesn't actually help us -- what if it's living through the experience ourselves that has the most impact? When asked what advice he'd give his 18-year old self, James' response was profound: "I don't want advice, and the reason I don't want advice is because every experience is a teacher," NBA star LeBron James explained during an interview that has since gone viral after being tweeted Monday by Bleacher Report. "Every experience that you have is the best teacher in life," James said. "You could read books, you could have great parents, you could have great mentors, but in order for you to be able to tackle something, you have to go through things." Of course, it’s one thing for James to say that -- he has a lot of experience! He’s had ups and downs in his NBA career and overcome some major personal and professional obstacles to get where he is today. "So all the experiences that I've had along the way since I've became known at 15, all the way to my age now. There's been bumps, there's been bruises, there's been good, there's been bad, there's been obstacles, but I've learned how to deal with them because I experienced them," James says in the video clip. James has been very busy, he even recently opened a public school that promises free college tuition upon graduation in Akron for at-risk children -- and this idea came from his own childhood. James missed 84 days of school in fourth-grade because he was always moving. Also, when he was younger, biking was his only way to get around, so now he's giving free bikes to 240 young students. "It's hard to go off of somebody else's experience," James says. "I could tell you guys, I could try to coach you guys, and me being a parent, that's what I'm doing with my kids right now. I could give them the blueprint, but at the end of the day, they're going to have to travel their own road."

LeBron James Opens Innovative New Public School in his Hometown, Says It’s One of the Most Important Accomplishments of his Life
Celebrities

LeBron James Opens Innovative New Public School in his Hometown, Says It’s One of the Most Important Accomplishments of his Life

LeBron James has always been notorious for giving back to his community in any way he can.The basketball thing: it’s fun, I love it. I enjoy it. But to give back, being able to open up a school; that’s something that’ll last for way beyond my years– LeBron JamesMotivated by his formative years, the NBA superstar was been driven to open an innovative public school to serve low-income and at-risk students in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.According to Cleveland.com, James said, “Besides having three kids, marrying my wife, putting my mom in a position where she’ll never have to worry about anything again for the rest of her life. This is right up there [in the most important things in my life]. Championships, MVPs, however many points, rebounds and assists, that stuff is whatever.But me being able to open up a school and give back to my inner city for so many kids that I know because I was those kids and I walked those streets, and it was like ‘there’s no way I’m gonna be able to get out of this situation.’ I just thought about that every day. But I had dreams and I had mentors that allowed my dreams to become who I am today.”The I Promise differenceThe I Promise school will focus on accelerated learning, guarantees free college tuition to the University of Akron and will also help provide job placement assistance for parents; an unusual concept for most public schools in the US.And that’s what will set I Promise apart from other low-income public schools: ensuring these low-income students -- that’s 240 third- and fourth-graders -- and their families get the support they need, otherwise known as the “We Are Family” philosophy. According to I Promise principal, Brandi Davis, “it is about true wrap-around support, true family integration and true compassion.”

LeBron James: It's All About Teamwork
Goalcast Originals

LeBron James: It's All About Teamwork

LeBron James - TeamworkBasketball star LeBron James says that success is never about the individual, but about the people in a person's life who support them behind the scenes.Transcript:"I'm not even supposed to be here. That's enough. Every night I walk into the locker room, I see a number six with James on the back. I'm blessed, so what everybody say about me off the court don't matter. I ain't got no worries."I accept the challenge every night. Every night I go on the basketball court and everyday life, I accept the challenge because I realize I'm not just representing LeBron James. I'm representing my two sons, I represent my family, I represent everybody in my household and also the city of Cleveland. Now, I have an even brighter mind now. I represent the United States of America."This isn't about me. It's never about the individual. It always about the people behind them. It's always about the people that's behind the camera. It's always about the people that doesn't get the credit. It's always about the people that always sacrifice what they think or what they believe they could be doing more with their lives for the better of the individual. So, for myself, we just want to say thank you to the supporting cast."