James made sure to adopt the teachings of his uncle despite earning massively in the NBA.
When you look at LeBron James, it’s hard to picture a time when he wasn’t dominating basketball or was among the most profitable athletes in sports. However, the 39-year-old might have never become a billionaire had he not taken a 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood lesson to heart. Though the four-time MVP has been one of the leading faces in the NBA for more than two decades, one principle instilled in him made sure he would be financially sound even if his career would come to an end abruptly.
Uncle’s valuable lesson
When LeBron was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧, his mother, Gloria, was only 16 years old. With an unstable life, both had to move homes and struggled financially during their early years. Because of this challenging start, Bron’s needed every bit of advice he could get. Speaking on “Uninterrupted,” the four-time NBA Champion shed light on how his uncle instilled in him a habit of financial mindfulness.
“My uncles always taught me – they taught me how to have a savings account,” LeBron said, as mentioned by Yahoo. “They’d give me a dollar and they’d be like, ‘Listen, nephew, go spend 35 cents of it and keep the other 65.’ Or, if they gave me two dollars, they’d be like, ‘Go ahead and spend a dollar of it, but stash the other dollar.”
LeBron still heeds that advice
Despite earning $528 million in NBA salaries alone, investing in several profitable business ventures, owning small stakes in sporting clubs, and even signing a lifetime deal with Nike, the 20-time All-Star has built himself a billion-dollar net worth yet he makes sure to honor his uncle’s lesson. He hasn’t shied away from applying the teachings, even with all his success.
“I’m always in my head about stashing and keeping my money sacred,” the four-time Finals MVP added. “Because I didn’t know when my uncle was going to give me another dollar here and another 50 cents here.”
It’s safe to say that while “The King” has earned a substantial amount of money, his knack for saving and wise investments have been key to sustaining it. More importantly, Bron serves as a powerful example for the younger generation—showing that even the wealthiest NBA players prioritize saving and building long-term financial security over reckless spending.
