Locker Room Attendant Who Believed in LeBron James for 20 Years Falls on Hard Times —LeBron Steps In
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Locker Room Attendant Who Believed in LeBron James for 20 Years Falls on Hard Times — LeBron Steps In
In 1999, on a quiet November evening, janitor Marcus Washington heard the soft thump of a basketball echoing through the nearly empty gym of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. Following the sound, he discovered a tall, lanky 14-year-old boy practicing alone. That boy was LeBron James.
“You know the building’s closed, right?” Marcus said, leaning on his mop.
Startled, LeBron turned. “Sorry. I didn’t mean… I’ll go.”
But Marcus, sensing something different in the boy’s determination, smiled. “You got a nice jump shot. Mind if I watch a minute?”
And so began a friendship that would span decades.
Three nights a week, Marcus stayed late while LeBron practiced. He rebounded for him, encouraged him, and left notes in his locker: “Great things come from great work. Keep pushing.” As LeBron’s legend grew—from high school phenom to NBA rookie and eventually global icon—Marcus remained quietly proud, never asking for anything in return.
In 2003, on the eve of the NBA draft, LeBron returned to the gym. He handed Marcus his first high school jersey. “I want you to have this,” LeBron said. “You believed in me when I was just a kid sneaking into the gym. I won’t forget that.”
Years passed. LeBron became a champion. Marcus continued working behind the scenes, until one day the Cavaliers downsized. He lost his job. As time wore on, so did Marcus’s health. Years of physical labor, inadequate medical coverage, and financial hardship wore him down. He worked multiple jobs but struggled with kidney disease and chronic back pain.
One winter, desperate to pay for treatment, Marcus made the painful decision to sell LeBron’s jersey. The item quickly attracted collectors, and an anonymous buyer offered $18,500. That jersey, his most treasured possession, would be gone.
Before shipping it, Marcus held it one last time, whispering, “I still believe in you. I always will.”
But fate had another plan.
When a local journalist published Marcus’s story, it went viral. The tale of a janitor who once mentored a young LeBron James, who gave everything and asked for nothing, captured hearts everywhere.
Three days later, Marcus received a call from a blocked number.
“Marcus Washington? This is LeBron.”
There was silence. Then Marcus, overwhelmed, simply said, “LeBron… it’s good to hear your voice.”
LeBron had heard the story. He bought back the jersey. But not to keep it.
“It belongs with you,” LeBron said. “Always has. And I’m not stopping there. You’re coming home to Akron. I want you working with my foundation. Full benefits. A place to stay. We’re going to take care of everything.”
Tears rolled down Marcus’s face.
That winter, Marcus moved back to Akron. The jersey, now framed in a proper case, awaited him at his new office at the I PROMISE School—a symbol of belief, loyalty, and the power of kindness. For the man who had once whispered words of hope to a boy with a dream, it was now his time to be lifted.
LeBron never forgot.
And now the world knows why.
