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LeBron James’ religion: What are Lakers star’s religious beliefs and how it has helped him in his NBA career

Akash Murty
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LeBron James’ religion: What are Lakers star’s religious beliefs and how it has helped him in his NBA career

Being one of the GOATs of a top sport, and a billionaire doesn’t stop LeBron James from being a believer, in fact, he credits God for everything.

For centuries, faith has helped people in keeping the balance in their otherwise troublesome life. Be it rich or poor, everybody gets in a phase at some point in time in their life when they need a higher power to help them out. Even the Kings.

The King of the NBA has sure got his help whenever he or any person of his concern was lowly in their life. We are talking about Lakers superstar LeBron James and his belief in God.

Born in Akron, Ohio, in a Catholic family, James’ father was a criminal and was not involved in his life from the beginning.

Also read: Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Ben Simmons, Javale McGee – are they smarter than a 5th grader?

His mother, Gloria James, who conceived him at 16, struggled most of her life while having the responsibility to raise her son and her two younger brothers up because of the death of her mother when she was just 19.

James grew up within his football coach Frank Walker’s home since his fourth grade because his mother wanted him away from her struggles. That’s where his faith in God grew stronger.

LeBron James is born and raised a Catholic, and he is still a firm believer

Growing up with Walker’s 3 kids, James had to go to Portage Path Elementary, one of the oldest schools in Akron, which might not have been the best place for a kid, but that’s where his holistic learning began.

By the time James was in St. Vincent–St. Mary High School, a Catholic school in Ohio, he was a countrywide famous prodigy in basketball, labelled “The Chosen One”, he had become a firm believer in God.

That might have kept him grounded despite having all the attention of the country behind him even before making it to the NBA.

After he made it in 2003 going as the first pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers, it took him 9 years to win his first Championship. His faith kept him going at it. That’s how he won his fourth in his 17th year.

When he sent that tweet out after losing the 2011 Finals in an upset against the Dallas Mavericks, it stirred controversy on the internet against him for him bringing in God for his failure.

But as his career went on. He finally proved himself one of the greatest to ever do it, by winning 4 chips in 8 years and consistently being a presence in the NBA Finals for 9/10 postseasons of the 2010s, that statement turned out to be right.

He does credit God for even the little things he achieves from time to time. In fact, he credits all his success to the “man upstairs”, as well as the people around him.

Also read: “I’ll wear your a** out”: Kobe Bryant once intimidated LeBron James and the entire ABCD camp

About the author

Akash Murty

Akash Murty

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An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

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