From day one of his legendary career, LeBron James has never hidden the fact that none of his success would have been possible without the unconditional support of his family.
His mother, Gloria and his high school sweetheart, Savannah, were there long before the four NBA titles, three Olympic gold medals and a bank account clearing over a billion dollars, even if he might ironically claim otherwise.
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Growing up in a single-parent household, James quickly learned the true weight of family, largely because he never fully had one early on. He knew from a young age that he would do everything in his power to build his own. Yet, as he openly admits, his relentless pursuit of greatness meant he wasn’t around them nearly as much as he wanted to be.
“I’ve spent a lot of time sacrificing,” said James in his interview with “Time”. “I spent a lot of time putting in the work of my own individual craft and I’ve had to give up a lot of family time. So a big part of the next 10 years won’t be me getting it back, because you can’t get time back. But my daughter is 11 years old. I’m going to pour into her. I’m going to pour into my wife. Because I wanted to be the greatest that ever played this game, I’ve had to not be the complete husband and complete dad that I want to be.”
LeBron is still hunting for the undisputed title of the GOAT
Having ambitious goals in any facet of life is completely healthy. Still, some might wonder what LeBron is even chasing at 41 years old, still running the floor with guys half his age after a record-shattering 23 years in the league and achieving everything possible on and off the court.
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The answer is simple: his ultimate mission isn’t finished yet. He is still hunting for the undisputed title of the greatest basketball player to ever walk the planet. And if we assume his ultimate goal is catching Michael Jordan, the picture becomes even clearer.
Sitting two Larry O’Brien trophies short of MJ, LBJ is clearly still chasing that magic number six. Even though the Chicago Bulls icon grabbed his rings with a flawless 6-0 Finals record while James holds a more modest 4-6 mark, the Los Angeles Lakers forward clearly believes that once he reaches that number, nothing else will matter.
At the end of the day, we are talking about a man who realistically has nothing left to prove on a basketball court. On an individual level, he already owns virtually every major NBA record and it has long been obvious that a career like his will likely never be replicated.
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When you factor in his pure love for the game, a game he clearly still lives for as he continues to push boundaries, it’s clear the mindset of an athlete like this is just wired differently than anything we’re used to.
Giving back to his family
That exact supreme confidence is what led to James declaring he wouldn’t take anyone in NBA history over himself.
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“I’m not taking nobody over me,” James declared. “There’s no question. But I think Mike will say the same thing. Rest his soul, Kobe will say the same thing. Magic will say the same thing. Bird will say the same thing. Shaq could say the same thing. The late great Wilt. Kareem. I don’t think none of us are going to take somebody else. If there’s a general manager and he’s eyeballing all of us on a baseline, with the No. 1 pick, it’s gonna be hard not to take me, champ.”
Still, now that he has fulfilled his dream of sharing an NBA floor with his son Bronny, on the same team, LeBron is well aware that he has a whole life ahead of him, one he wants to spend giving back to the woman who practically raised their kids alone while he was chasing greatness and to the children who didn’t always have a constant father figure around.
James is fully aware that his timeless, legendary performances provided his family with a comfortable, carefree life. But beneath all that armor lies something money can never buy: priceless family time. And that is exactly what the four-time MVP plans to dedicate the rest of his life to — giving back to his family as unconditionally as they gave to him.
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Related: LeBron James identifies the adjustment Spurs need to unlock Victor Wembanyama in the Finals
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.