NBA
LeBron James’ PROMISE, More Than An Athlete
Since 2003, the NBA and its fans have been witnesses to the unstoppable force that is LeBron James. A fresh faced kid from Akron, Ohio was seemingly divinely sent to the basketball universe to carry the torch lit by Michael Jordan. A huge burden to bear, but James was uniquely built to carry the load.
Proven
LeBron has achieved tremendous accomplishments in his NBA career. He has 3 championships, 3 Finals MVPs, 4 NBA MVPs, 14 All Star Games, 3 All Star Game MVPs, 12 All NBA Teams, Rookie of the Year, and 2008 Scoring Champion. Very few have accomplished what LeBron has accomplished in 15 years and he is still playing at an MVP level. The list will continue to grow and eventually he may own every meaningful record in NBA history.
Staying Grounded
Despite all the accolades on the court, James’ most significant accomplishment to date is his latest, opening the ‘I PROMISE’ School in his hometown of Akron. The ‘I PROMISE’ School is a partnership between the LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools. I PROMISE is designed to provide Akron’s at-risk children access to a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) curriculum with a hands-on/problem-based learning focus. This approach, combined with the LeBron James Family Foundation’s “We Are Family” philosophy, creates a comprehensive blanketed environment for its students and their families.
The school offers more than the highest level of education. The ‘I PROMISE’ School will provide free uniforms, lunch, transportation, and paid college tuition for all graduates. This is a monumental achievement!
“This school is so important to me because our vision is to create a place for the kids in Akron who need it most – those that could fall through the cracks if we don’t do something…we’ve learned over the years what works and what motivates them, and now we can bring all of that together in one place along with the right resources and experts. If we get to them early enough, we can hopefully keep them on the right track to a bigger and brighter future for themselves and their families” – L. James
Greatness In Perspective
In barbershops, social media, locker rooms, basketball courts, and lunch tables, we debate where LeBron ranks in the all-time greatest discussion. Some already have crowned him as the Greatest of All Time, aka GOAT. Purists believe he has not or cannot ever catch Jordan’s level of greatness. For this moment, none of that banter matters.
LeBron has left our jaws dropped again by something greater than a game winner, a signature thunderous dunk, or a mind boggling pass. He has created a future for the generation that idolizes him by doing more than capitalizing off of them. He is investing in the future of our children.
More Than An Athlete
LeBron is more than an athlete with a social opinion. He is social action and social change. He is not adhering to “shut up and dribble” demands. Mr. James is changing the narrative for these children. LeBron James is Greatness. We need to appreciate him.
