Basketball superstar writes thank you to his incarcerated father for staying out of his life so early.

LeBron James once wrote a heartfelt message about his father who abandoned him and his mother when he was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧. The basketball superstar wrote that growing up without his father by his side gave him the motivation to strive and succeed in everything.

At the same time, the star bought a $100 million Porsche for his mother, Gloria, on her 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day. “Mom got a surprise 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day present today. Enjoy it, Mom, love you so much,” the basketball superstar wrote on Instagram

LeBron James’ father, Anthony McClellan, was a notorious con man and thief. The basketball superstar’s mother had to work hard to support him when she was only 16 years old. During his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood, James lived in poverty because his mother did not always have a job. They moved from one boarding house to another until he was 9 years old, when he moved in with football coach Frankie Walker’s family. LeBron James’ life then began to stabilize.

Later, when he became a talented and wealthy basketball star, LeBron James always shared how his mother’s sacrifices were great for his career, helping him become a mature and strong-willed man.