Rise through greatness. What does that actually mean? Greatness for some is individual success, the stats, accolades, championships, accomplishments to show that you belong where you are. Greatness for others is the team's success, wins and losses, building a winning culture for your city, state or even country. Greatness for some is simply proving your haters wrong, those who doubt you and don’t want you to find any form of success, making them silent to where they can’t even speak against you. Greatness is defined in so many ways. For years I’ve been trying to find what greatness means to me. This is my story, my journey, my rise through greatness. I am LeBron James III.
I could always feel the pressure of the world on me ever since I was a kid. What pressure could a five-year-old have you say? Well when your grandfather is Hall of Famer LeBron James and your dad is 3 time world champion Bronny James there’s a heavy unspoken pressure on your shoulders at all times even when you were a kid. The expectations set on me were so high and at times throughout my life it felt unachievable. I remember so many times thinking how did my grandfather do this, how did my father do this, how did they accomplish so much while seeming almost perfect to the public never making mistakes or tarnishing our family name for the world to see. I remember my dad telling me that my grandpa regretted naming him after himself so why did my dad do the same with me? Why did he bear me with this gift and curse? As I grew older I learned it was not a curse at all. Only my fear of failure made me think of that at times. I would soon come to rise through that exact fear time and time again.
I was 15 years old my basketball team went undefeated dominating every team during the regular season. My natural basketball skill was undeniable. I was 6’5 feet by the age of 12 and could shoot and pass like an elite college player. Everyone around me wanted me to keep continuing basketball but something inside of me just didn’t want to. This kind of internal conflict haunted me for years. Do I choose to do what I want and follow my heart or do I continue trying to make everyone else proud and happy with my choices keeping the family legacy intact being another basketball icon with the James name. The championship game had arrived. I felt weird, almost uncomfortable. I could tell inside myself that I didn’t want to be there. However outside I looked confident, ready, willing to dominate like my father and grandfather before me. The tip was thrown and the ball given to me right away I went to work as usual, at this point it felt like I was in robot mode. A bucket here, a dime there, and a slam dunk right over 2 opponents. At half time I already had a triple double with 24 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. The fire inside was so burnt out but I had to keep that exterior looking focused and hungry. The opposing team started making a comeback they had a great 16-2 run and it was 1:02 on the clock left they were up 4. I had the ball in my hand I hit my defender with a hesitation move and fake pass to my left, he bit and I took the lane and euro step laid it in with ease. They missed their next shot and we had the ball right back down 2 with 23 remaining on the clock. I slowly brought the ball up knowing I had to hit this next shot. I could not pass it up, I had that mamba mentality(python perspective). I took a look at the clock 6...5...I stared right into the eyes of my opponent putting him in a trance like state, 4...3...I hit him with a stutter step and stepped back when he stepped to my side he fell to the ground and I could hear the gasp of the crowd. I propelled myself to behind the three-point line. I had a clear wide open shot, one that I’ve hit so many times before. One that I knew without a doubt I could make 2...1.......ERRHHHHH
I didn’t shoot the ball.
I’ve only talked to my dad once about what happened that night. I don’t have any regrets. I wouldn’t change what happened or what I did because it changed everything for me. For that brief few seconds where I chose to not shoot the ball. For the first time in my life I felt like I was in control. I felt the most alive I had ever been. Don’t get me wrong, I feel bad for throwing the game and losing but I was finally free. It took that kind of sacrifice, letting everyone down my teammates, my family and everyone that supported me that far. But there comes a time in everyone’s life where you have a choice to make between yourself and those you love. I’ll never forget what my dad told me after the game. “It’s your life, no one can live it for you, so live.” Those words echoed in me I finally knew what I had to do. I had to follow my true inner passion. My call to football. Football called to me more than ever before. It was time for me to find my own greatness. Greatness that only I could achieve on the gridiron.
Before I could remember I always had an attraction to football. There were many pictures of me as a kid with the football in my hand. I liked the shape of it, the feel of the leather. The helmets and pads looked so cool to like super power rangers they ran across and jumped high. Tackling and pushing each other in a battle all across the field. As I grew older I almost had to hide my love for football from my family. I remember growing up as everyone was tuned in to my father's games. I always had football playing on my phone. Whether it was watching highlights of Mike Boss winning championships or heavy hitters throughout the ISFL. I loved football. This isn’t to say that I hated basketball but maybe because it was thrown into my face 24 seven a certain type of resentment started building. That resentment combined with my natural affection for football would only result in one ultimate destiny. I would take all my talents, energy and focus that I was applying to basketball to that beautiful turf field. It was time to finally unleash the inner beast with the love of doing what I truly wanted to all my life. I felt untethered, like a pit bull off it’s leash.
I started making football my life. I practiced everyday, memorizing every play, formation and scheme. I slept, ate, breathed football. My sophomore year of high school I knew this was going to be it. I had more pressure than ever before but this time it felt good. It was my own personal pressure not the burden of holding my family’s name in high regard. It was the pressure of making my own rise to greatness. I worked out harder than ever. I put on weight and was tougher than ever before. The dimes I throw on the court now seamlessly transferred over to the football field. I was ready and the first season game was Friday under the lights. I was so focused I could feel the electricity in the air. My whole family was in the crowd. I knew I couldn’t let my team down and start the season off with a loss. The game had started. Everything seemed like a blur. “Hut hut, go go go! 4th and 2 do we go for it??” Everything was happening so fast around me. Before I knew it, we were in the fourth quarter with one minute and 35 seconds to go down 17. My coach pulled me aside and asked if I was alright. To this day I can’t tell if I was just too excited to be out there or not. I told my coach that us losing would never happen again. That season we went to win every game after that. I lead us to our first ever state championship. I also lead the state in mini statistical categories such as passing yards, touchdowns thrown, QB rating and completion percentage. These things I’m sharing however did not define my greatness in my eyes. My greatness was defined that day I stood up for myself. That day where I took my destiny into my own hands.
The day I didn’t shoot the ball.
I continued playing and dominating in football. Soon the name LeBron James became a household name in high school football like it was already in basketball. I went on to win two more championships and almost every college in America reached out to me for playing for their college organization. I truly believed I had the talent and knowledge to play in the league already. I was 6’8 and 250lbs I made some pros look like amateurs. Something that I never thought would happen was that my dad and grandfather started supporting me more than ever. We all got closer than we were before. My grandfather and I started getting really close and he shared that he played football in highschool to! He quickly became my number 1 fan. My family called us Bronny cubed. It was hard deciding where I wanted to play college football. Their were so many great choices. Do I go have fun under the sun in Miami? Do I play rugged hard nose football in Alabama or do I follow my heart? My grandfather always said if he had went to college he would’ve chosen his home town state of Ohio. I chose to go check it out. Immediately I felt a connection with the Ohio State University. Not only did I feel accepted, I felt really wanted, I instantly knew this is the place I had to be. I committed to the Ohio State University and started getting ready for college football.
Immediately I made a huge splash in the college football season. In my first two games I threw for over 1000 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dominating started becoming normal almost expected and I embraced it with open arms. I knew I had to go against tougher competition. The commissioner of the International simulation football league reached out to me. They gave me an offer like never before. I was given The opportunity to play directly with the pros. I knew this is what I had to to, to compete against the best. Another difficult internal decision where I had to choose between people counting on me and what I knew what was best for him. Luckily enough The Ohio State university had another good QB under me which I knew would lead this team to success making my decision much easier. I accepted the commissioners offer to play in the ISFL and was picked up on waivers as a free agent by the Tijuana Luchadores at the age of 18. I was a pro. The hard work, the sacrifices, the decisions I made to get me here all paid off. If my greatness was ever in question I felt like with this latest accomplishment I answered it all.
I didn’t get much playing time, actually I didn’t get any but what I was learning from Mike Boss jr yes that Boss, the son of the same Boss I was watching highlights a few years ago was instrumental to my development. Our team had a great season and almost won it all. Even though we came up short I saw what it took to win a championship at this level. It takes everything and everyone with 1 singular focus in mind. Off-season approached and I spoke with many scouts and coaches. It was very overwhelming at first as I was learning everything about the league and adjusting to all the new things. I wasn’t sure what team was going to draft me. I actually forgot to reply to a few scouts accidentally. I just knew that whoever took the chance on me would be getting a player that would give them their all. Draft day came and my drip...well I’ll talk about that another time. The first pick came, not me. 2nd, 3rd nope. 4th nope. I was losing hope. Maybe these teams didn’t see what I saw in me. They didn’t see my greatness, they didn’t know my story. The Portland Pythons were up. “And with the 5th pick the Portland Pythons select QB...LeBron James III”. They believed in me. They did see my rise through greatness. They took a chance on a young kid. They chose me to be one of the leaders of this great organization. I was locked in immediately. My view on everything changed. I had the Python perspective. Anyone we would face from here on out would have to feel the crushing squeezing force of this team. Hiss hiss baby.
I started training and leaning more than ever pushing myself to new heights. The competition was now more fierce than ever with great players like Rich Triplet, Chuck Roth, Mike Boss jr and many other greats throughout the league. I know it’ll be tough in the beginning but I’m up for the challenge and I know with time I will only get better. I’m still figuring out how I want to play and what schemes I want to run to put my team in the best position to win a championship. If there’s one thing about football it is won and lost as a team. It truly is the ultimate team sport. Taking every position to do their job trusting one another while putting the maximum effort for each play to be run correctly. If one piece of the team doesn’t do what they are supposed to it can bring the whole team down.
I’m looking forward to this season. I believe Portland can do great things this season. I know I’m surrounded by coaches and general managers, great players and even better members of the International simulation football league. It’s time for me to lead once again. The king is here. Portland is now my home. The path is set for me. It's time to walk it and win with my teammates. There will be ups and downs but with the Ultimini on our mind we won’t stop at anything to achieve it. Portland on my back I will not fall. The pythons will rise and answer the call. It’s our time. Will you rise with us? I hope you have got to know me a little better. This is what greatness means to me.
Don’t shoot the ball.
Allow yourself to rise.
We. Will. Rise. Through. Greatness.
(2,521 words)
I could always feel the pressure of the world on me ever since I was a kid. What pressure could a five-year-old have you say? Well when your grandfather is Hall of Famer LeBron James and your dad is 3 time world champion Bronny James there’s a heavy unspoken pressure on your shoulders at all times even when you were a kid. The expectations set on me were so high and at times throughout my life it felt unachievable. I remember so many times thinking how did my grandfather do this, how did my father do this, how did they accomplish so much while seeming almost perfect to the public never making mistakes or tarnishing our family name for the world to see. I remember my dad telling me that my grandpa regretted naming him after himself so why did my dad do the same with me? Why did he bear me with this gift and curse? As I grew older I learned it was not a curse at all. Only my fear of failure made me think of that at times. I would soon come to rise through that exact fear time and time again.
I was 15 years old my basketball team went undefeated dominating every team during the regular season. My natural basketball skill was undeniable. I was 6’5 feet by the age of 12 and could shoot and pass like an elite college player. Everyone around me wanted me to keep continuing basketball but something inside of me just didn’t want to. This kind of internal conflict haunted me for years. Do I choose to do what I want and follow my heart or do I continue trying to make everyone else proud and happy with my choices keeping the family legacy intact being another basketball icon with the James name. The championship game had arrived. I felt weird, almost uncomfortable. I could tell inside myself that I didn’t want to be there. However outside I looked confident, ready, willing to dominate like my father and grandfather before me. The tip was thrown and the ball given to me right away I went to work as usual, at this point it felt like I was in robot mode. A bucket here, a dime there, and a slam dunk right over 2 opponents. At half time I already had a triple double with 24 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. The fire inside was so burnt out but I had to keep that exterior looking focused and hungry. The opposing team started making a comeback they had a great 16-2 run and it was 1:02 on the clock left they were up 4. I had the ball in my hand I hit my defender with a hesitation move and fake pass to my left, he bit and I took the lane and euro step laid it in with ease. They missed their next shot and we had the ball right back down 2 with 23 remaining on the clock. I slowly brought the ball up knowing I had to hit this next shot. I could not pass it up, I had that mamba mentality(python perspective). I took a look at the clock 6...5...I stared right into the eyes of my opponent putting him in a trance like state, 4...3...I hit him with a stutter step and stepped back when he stepped to my side he fell to the ground and I could hear the gasp of the crowd. I propelled myself to behind the three-point line. I had a clear wide open shot, one that I’ve hit so many times before. One that I knew without a doubt I could make 2...1.......ERRHHHHH
I didn’t shoot the ball.
I’ve only talked to my dad once about what happened that night. I don’t have any regrets. I wouldn’t change what happened or what I did because it changed everything for me. For that brief few seconds where I chose to not shoot the ball. For the first time in my life I felt like I was in control. I felt the most alive I had ever been. Don’t get me wrong, I feel bad for throwing the game and losing but I was finally free. It took that kind of sacrifice, letting everyone down my teammates, my family and everyone that supported me that far. But there comes a time in everyone’s life where you have a choice to make between yourself and those you love. I’ll never forget what my dad told me after the game. “It’s your life, no one can live it for you, so live.” Those words echoed in me I finally knew what I had to do. I had to follow my true inner passion. My call to football. Football called to me more than ever before. It was time for me to find my own greatness. Greatness that only I could achieve on the gridiron.
Before I could remember I always had an attraction to football. There were many pictures of me as a kid with the football in my hand. I liked the shape of it, the feel of the leather. The helmets and pads looked so cool to like super power rangers they ran across and jumped high. Tackling and pushing each other in a battle all across the field. As I grew older I almost had to hide my love for football from my family. I remember growing up as everyone was tuned in to my father's games. I always had football playing on my phone. Whether it was watching highlights of Mike Boss winning championships or heavy hitters throughout the ISFL. I loved football. This isn’t to say that I hated basketball but maybe because it was thrown into my face 24 seven a certain type of resentment started building. That resentment combined with my natural affection for football would only result in one ultimate destiny. I would take all my talents, energy and focus that I was applying to basketball to that beautiful turf field. It was time to finally unleash the inner beast with the love of doing what I truly wanted to all my life. I felt untethered, like a pit bull off it’s leash.
I started making football my life. I practiced everyday, memorizing every play, formation and scheme. I slept, ate, breathed football. My sophomore year of high school I knew this was going to be it. I had more pressure than ever before but this time it felt good. It was my own personal pressure not the burden of holding my family’s name in high regard. It was the pressure of making my own rise to greatness. I worked out harder than ever. I put on weight and was tougher than ever before. The dimes I throw on the court now seamlessly transferred over to the football field. I was ready and the first season game was Friday under the lights. I was so focused I could feel the electricity in the air. My whole family was in the crowd. I knew I couldn’t let my team down and start the season off with a loss. The game had started. Everything seemed like a blur. “Hut hut, go go go! 4th and 2 do we go for it??” Everything was happening so fast around me. Before I knew it, we were in the fourth quarter with one minute and 35 seconds to go down 17. My coach pulled me aside and asked if I was alright. To this day I can’t tell if I was just too excited to be out there or not. I told my coach that us losing would never happen again. That season we went to win every game after that. I lead us to our first ever state championship. I also lead the state in mini statistical categories such as passing yards, touchdowns thrown, QB rating and completion percentage. These things I’m sharing however did not define my greatness in my eyes. My greatness was defined that day I stood up for myself. That day where I took my destiny into my own hands.
The day I didn’t shoot the ball.
I continued playing and dominating in football. Soon the name LeBron James became a household name in high school football like it was already in basketball. I went on to win two more championships and almost every college in America reached out to me for playing for their college organization. I truly believed I had the talent and knowledge to play in the league already. I was 6’8 and 250lbs I made some pros look like amateurs. Something that I never thought would happen was that my dad and grandfather started supporting me more than ever. We all got closer than we were before. My grandfather and I started getting really close and he shared that he played football in highschool to! He quickly became my number 1 fan. My family called us Bronny cubed. It was hard deciding where I wanted to play college football. Their were so many great choices. Do I go have fun under the sun in Miami? Do I play rugged hard nose football in Alabama or do I follow my heart? My grandfather always said if he had went to college he would’ve chosen his home town state of Ohio. I chose to go check it out. Immediately I felt a connection with the Ohio State University. Not only did I feel accepted, I felt really wanted, I instantly knew this is the place I had to be. I committed to the Ohio State University and started getting ready for college football.
Immediately I made a huge splash in the college football season. In my first two games I threw for over 1000 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dominating started becoming normal almost expected and I embraced it with open arms. I knew I had to go against tougher competition. The commissioner of the International simulation football league reached out to me. They gave me an offer like never before. I was given The opportunity to play directly with the pros. I knew this is what I had to to, to compete against the best. Another difficult internal decision where I had to choose between people counting on me and what I knew what was best for him. Luckily enough The Ohio State university had another good QB under me which I knew would lead this team to success making my decision much easier. I accepted the commissioners offer to play in the ISFL and was picked up on waivers as a free agent by the Tijuana Luchadores at the age of 18. I was a pro. The hard work, the sacrifices, the decisions I made to get me here all paid off. If my greatness was ever in question I felt like with this latest accomplishment I answered it all.
I didn’t get much playing time, actually I didn’t get any but what I was learning from Mike Boss jr yes that Boss, the son of the same Boss I was watching highlights a few years ago was instrumental to my development. Our team had a great season and almost won it all. Even though we came up short I saw what it took to win a championship at this level. It takes everything and everyone with 1 singular focus in mind. Off-season approached and I spoke with many scouts and coaches. It was very overwhelming at first as I was learning everything about the league and adjusting to all the new things. I wasn’t sure what team was going to draft me. I actually forgot to reply to a few scouts accidentally. I just knew that whoever took the chance on me would be getting a player that would give them their all. Draft day came and my drip...well I’ll talk about that another time. The first pick came, not me. 2nd, 3rd nope. 4th nope. I was losing hope. Maybe these teams didn’t see what I saw in me. They didn’t see my greatness, they didn’t know my story. The Portland Pythons were up. “And with the 5th pick the Portland Pythons select QB...LeBron James III”. They believed in me. They did see my rise through greatness. They took a chance on a young kid. They chose me to be one of the leaders of this great organization. I was locked in immediately. My view on everything changed. I had the Python perspective. Anyone we would face from here on out would have to feel the crushing squeezing force of this team. Hiss hiss baby.
I started training and leaning more than ever pushing myself to new heights. The competition was now more fierce than ever with great players like Rich Triplet, Chuck Roth, Mike Boss jr and many other greats throughout the league. I know it’ll be tough in the beginning but I’m up for the challenge and I know with time I will only get better. I’m still figuring out how I want to play and what schemes I want to run to put my team in the best position to win a championship. If there’s one thing about football it is won and lost as a team. It truly is the ultimate team sport. Taking every position to do their job trusting one another while putting the maximum effort for each play to be run correctly. If one piece of the team doesn’t do what they are supposed to it can bring the whole team down.
I’m looking forward to this season. I believe Portland can do great things this season. I know I’m surrounded by coaches and general managers, great players and even better members of the International simulation football league. It’s time for me to lead once again. The king is here. Portland is now my home. The path is set for me. It's time to walk it and win with my teammates. There will be ups and downs but with the Ultimini on our mind we won’t stop at anything to achieve it. Portland on my back I will not fall. The pythons will rise and answer the call. It’s our time. Will you rise with us? I hope you have got to know me a little better. This is what greatness means to me.
Don’t shoot the ball.
Allow yourself to rise.
We. Will. Rise. Through. Greatness.
(2,521 words)
![[Image: ZHH3TGZ.png]](https://i.imgur.com/ZHH3TGZ.png)
