LeBron James Offers Unlikely 'Thanks' To Absent Father For Inspiring Him To Greatness

LeBron James has an unlikely message for his absent father: "Thanks all along."

James, who was raised by his mother, credited his single-parent upbringing with making him the man he is today in a message posted on his Instagram page on Wednesday. The four-time NBA MVP specifically cited the absence of his father, Anthony McClelland, as one of the things that fueled him to succeed.

“Because of you Pops! Thanks all along. Could have said ‘Why me?’ with [you] not being there but look what I made of myself," James wrote.

The quote included in the social media post is excerpted from James' interview with GQ for the March 2014 issue.

"Like, 'Wow, Dad, you know what, I don't know you, I have no idea who you are, but because of you is part of the reason who I am today.' The fuel that I use—you not being there—it's part of the reason I grew up to become who I am. It's part of the reason why I want to be hands-on with my endeavors," James told GQ. "And be able to put my guys that's with me now in position. Like Maverick Carter, my right-hand guy in my business. Rich Paul, my agent. Randy Mims, my friend—he's my manager, you know. So me in a position allowing people around me to grow, that maybe wouldn't have happened if I had two parents, two sisters, a dog, and a picket fence, you know?"