Why LeBron's first Wheaties box was one of best moments of his life originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
LeBron James has accomplished everything you could possibly accomplish as a professional athlete, yet it wasn't until this week that he received his first Wheaties cereal box cover. It has long been a tradition for American athletes and, though it may not seem like it carries the same prestige as it used to, James was deeply moved by the honor.
When asked Thursday about his legacy as an NBA player, James shifted the conversation to his life off the court and went in-depth on what it meant to get on the cover of a Wheaties box.
"What I do off the floor means more to me than what I do off the floor. Seeing my kids on the back of a Wheaties box yesterday; that's one of the best moments of my life. Seeing my mom unveil the box back in my hometown in Ohio yesterday, it was some of the best news, videos and pictures that I've ever seen and that I could ever get," James said.
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As you see in the pictures, the front of the box is James in his Lakers jersey going up for a dunk. On the back are pictures of him off the court with his family.
James also cherishes the impact he has made outside of his close family circle. James has been at the forefront of athletes pushing for societal change both in terms of taking political stances and with his charitable efforts.
He hopes the images on the back of the Wheaties box endure more than the one on the front.
"The game of basketball will pass me by and a new group of young kids [will take over]," he said.
"How I move, how I walk, what I preach, what I talk about, how I inspire the next generation is what matters to me the most. If you appreciate my game, cool. If you didn't, then that's cool, too. That's what it boils down to."
