LeBron James wasn’t home for Father’s Day on June 21 as he was enjoying a reunion with his 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers teammates in Europe, but he has now made his way back to the United States. Following LeBron’s return, his daughter, Zhuri James, handed him a Father’s Day card, and he couldn’t hold back the tears after reading it.
“Obviously was away for Father’s Day,” LeBron wrote. “My daughter just rolled up on me while I was eating and gave me this and said ‘Happy Father’s Day, I Love You!’ and walk away. Thank goodness she did cause after reading the card I felt it and couldn’t hold it back! INSTANT TEARS ran down my face! Sometimes you just don’t know the impact you make in your kids life but you hope it’s positive! It’s not easy at all being a Father to kids growing in their own every day but goddamn I wouldn’t change it for the world! I knew it from the moment my pops wasn’t around that I wouldn’t repeat the cycle. Bronny, Bryce, Zhuri, I LOVE YOU GUYS TO THE MOON, BEYOND IT AND BACK.”
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LeBron, of course, grew up in a single-parent household. His mother, Gloria James, raised him as his father wasn’t involved in his life, and he wasn’t going to let his children go through what he had to.
There are things one could criticize LeBron for, but parenting isn’t one of them. Zhuri, Bronny, and Bryce appear to be great characters, and they all love their father dearly. Here is what Zhuri wrote in that lovely card.
“As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to appreciate not just the things you’ve done, but the person you’ve always been—like Steady, Patient, & always there when it mattered the most,” Zhuri wrote. “So as much of who I am today is because of the love & support you’ve given me, often in ways I didn’t fully understand until now. Thank you for being my guide, my support, & my home no matter where life takes me. I carry & follow your leads & lessons with me every single day & when you retire I can’t wait for you to be at all of my games, like I was at yours. Happy fathers Day. I Love you more than I CAN ask for. You are the best by Par.”
That line at the end was referring to LeBron’s love for golf. That card was very much golf-themed, too.
While LeBron is going to keep playing golf for many more years, the same cannot be said about basketball. The 41-year-old still hasn’t confirmed if he will be returning for his 24th season. Zhuri and the rest of the family will have a say in what he does.
LeBron averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025-26. The 22-time All-Star is good enough to keep playing, but how many more of Zhuri’s volleyball games is he fine with missing? Just like any other 11-year-old girl, she wants to see her father out there supporting her.
You’d still imagine LeBron will be back, but the end is very much near. We should appreciate him as long as he’s around.
