LeBron: Opening school among most important things I've ever done
There's much more to life than basketball for LeBron James.
For all he's achieved on the court, the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar believes opening his I Promise School for at-risk youth in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, is one of the most important things he's ever accomplished.
"Besides having three kids and marrying my wife, putting my mom in a position where she never has to worry about anything ever again for the rest of her life, this is right up there," James said, as quoted by ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
"Championships, MVPs, I mean, points, rebounds and assists, that stuff is, whatever. But, for me to be able to open up a school and give back to my inner city, so many kids that I know because I was those kids. I walked those streets and it was just like there's no way I'm going to be able to get out of this situation. I just thought about that every day. I had dreams and I had mentors and they allowed my dreams to become who I am today.
"People can talk about everything else besides that, but they can never take away what I’m able to do for my hometown and people all around the world. That's what means to me more than anything. The basketball thing, I love it and I enjoy it, but to give back and be able to open up a school, that's something that will last way beyond my years."
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On Monday, the Akron School Board approved a plan to open a public school in partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation. The I Promise School is scheduled to begin classes next fall for third- and fourth-grade students who are at risk of falling behind. The plan is to expand to include more grades in the future.
James, 32, also joked he might serve as an assistant principal at the school someday.