“This Is the Beginning…”: LeBron James Divulges Heartwarming Meaning Behind Special Feature in Home Court Museum

A museum dedicated entirely to LeBron James was opened in Akron, Ohio last month. An immersive experience for everyone, this space details the entire life story of the “King James”. Anyone closely affiliated with the James family was on an emotional rollercoaster when they first entered the space.

Then again, there is very little that the public does not know about the ‘kid from Akron’. So it was equally euphoric for them as well. LeBron is back again at his home court museum and he still gets emotional.

Emotional LeBron back to where it all started

“This is the beginning,” was an excited James’ introduction to the bevy of reporters and cameramen surrounding him. But it was clear that the door marked ‘602’ was more than a beginning. That door was the first of its kind for a struggling single mother and her ambitious son.

As Bron says, “This was the first time I got a key to a place.” And a stable life. Gloria James had him at the young age of 16 and with his grandmother’s passing, the James family fell into a fast web of deterioration. Since then, the mother-son duo have been on the move.

Though Gloria did her best to shield her son from poverty and the seedier lifestyle native to Akron at the time, it had started taking a toll on him. So, for them to move to an apartment with a key and a room that a 12-year-old LeBron could call his own set the stage for his success.

The pair spent their time in the SpringHills Apartments from 1996 to 2003, when he was drafted into the NBA. It’s understandable why the door ‘602’ would be an emotional piece for James.

The LeBron James museum

The James Family Foundation runs the venue for the Akron Museum dedicated to King James. As mentioned earlier, the entire place is set up in a way that provides a maximum immersive experience for museum-goers. And it starts with the door marked ‘602’.

Read More: Know About Every Memorabilia Available at LeBron James’ Newly Opened Akron Museum

The staff at the venue handed the people a custom key on a string; the same kind that LeBron used to carry around as a kid growing up. Once they enter the apartment, the visitors will see every minute detail arranged to perfection. Exactly as a young James had it years back.

Bron’s bedroom is filled with sneakers, sports posters, trophies, and a stereo placed on carefully balanced milk crates. From there on, it moves to his high school days at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. It features a replica of the high school basketball court and then the scene changes to his professional career.

From there, a room is dedicated completely to his personal life and off-court ventures. As well as the family’s philanthropic endeavors. Many of the items on display are originals. Talking to ESPN’s McMenamin during the opening, he said, “I used to get on my mom a lot about saving everything since I was like starting first playing sports. And she kind of threw it back in my face … because a lot of the [items] in there is because of the stuff that she saved. And that’s pretty cool.”

Kudos to Mama James! Never question a mother’s instincts. Pretty sure LeBron has finally understood that. It truly is a special experience for the James family and the entire world. His children get to see the struggles their father went through to become the “King”. There’s just something powerful about seeing than hearing.

Watch This Story: “Emotional” Gloria James Gets Nostalgic After Entering Son Lebron James’ Newly Opened Akron Museum