LeBron James has been a freak of nature ever since he stepped foot on a basketball court. The Akron Hammer achieved massive popularity even before playing in the NBA. The Sports Illustrated magazine dubbed him the Chosen One in high school. The hype surrounding LeBron was so high that he sold out arenas. Fans jumped at every opportunity to witness the NBA’s future, as LeBron dominated other high school hoopers.

One such fan was Travis Kelce, a fellow Ohio native and tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs. During an interview, he reminisced about his enthusiasm to watch LeBron play when he was just in seventh grade.

LeBron James – Future of NBA

Before becoming an NBA superstar, LeBron was a humble kid from Akron, Ohio. Spotlight never left LeBron’s side, even when he was playing for Saint Vincent-Saint Mary High School. Fans wanted to watch the future of the NBA because of that he sold out massive arenas, even before stepping foot on an NBA court.

Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and fellow Ohio native, also wanted to witness King James in his pomp.

On his podcast, New Heights, Kelce recalled an incident in which a 17-year-old LeBron sold out an entire arena in Cleveland. He said, “I went to a game down in Cleveland State when I was in seventh grade, to go watch LeBron James play high school basketball. He was selling out arenas all over north-east Ohio.”

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Kelce was a little kid getting excited for like the new wave of what the NBA was going to look like. “Sure enough,” he recalled, “he [Bron] didn’t disappoint.”

Before NBA Stardom

LeBron James’ high school career at St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron, Ohio, was nothing short of legendary. His extraordinary talents on the basketball court made him a nationwide sensation. LeBron led his team to three state championships and earned accolades such as the USA Today High School Player of the Year.

His exceptional performances led him to skip college and join the NBA as the first overall pick in the 2003 Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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His historic leap from high school to the pros marked the beginning of a career that would see LeBron James become one of the greatest basketball players of all time.