LeBron James says opening school in Akron is one of the most important accomplishments in his life

In late November, the school board in Akron, Ohio approved The LeBron James Family Foundation plans for The I Promise School, aimed at teaching kids in his hometown who are in danger of falling behind.

Now, The King says this feat is “right up there” with some of the most important achievements in his life, none of which is on the basketball court.

“It is,” he said, according to Cleveland.com, when asked if opening a school is the most important thing in his life. “Besides having three kids, marrying my wife, putting my mom in a position where she’ll never have to worry about anything again for the rest of her life. This is right up there. Championships, MVPs, however many points, rebounds and assists, that stuff is whatever.

But me being able to open up a school and give back to my inner city for so many kids that I know because I was those kids and I walked those streets, and it was like ‘there’s no way I’m gonna be able to get out of this situation.’ I just thought about that every day. But I had dreams and I had mentors that allowed my dreams to become who I am today.

People can talk about everything else besides that, but you can never take away what I’m able to do for my hometown and for people all the way around the world. That’s what amazes me more than anything. The basketball thing: it’s fun, I love it. I enjoy it. But to give back, being able to open up a school; that’s something that’ll last for way beyond my years.”

James is a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year, a three-time NBA champion, and one of the greatest basketball players to ever walk the Earth. That much is fact, no matter who you ask. But opening a school is the most important thing to him outside family.

We hear so many people say Ball Is Life. It’s even the name of a popular basketball website. But for James, and many other athletes, there’s much more to life than hoops. For LeBron, giving back to his hometown and keeping kids off the wrong track is more valuable than any trophy, any basketball honor.

“This school is so important to me because our vision is to create a place for the kids in Akron who need it most — those that could fall through the cracks if we don’t do something,” he said, via the Associated Press.

The LeBron James Family Foundation also has an I Promise network of students, and through a partnership with The University of Akron, the kids who qualify get a full scholarship through college.

Outside of schooling, the Foundation has provided $16,000 worth of groceries for families in the network, helped expose more than 3,000 students and family members to new career paths, and has even given out 800 tickets to Cavaliers games, according to its website.

That’s the tangible impact he wants to make on others in his life. And when the I Promise School opens in fall of 2018, the students just might be in for a surprise.

“I might be an assistant principal one day; make sure my kids are doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” he said. “It’s unbelievable.”