LeBron James Nearly Paid $4 Million Over a Failed DNA Test With an Impostor Claiming to Be His Father

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Pragya Vashisth

Jun 26, 2022 | 12:30 PM EDT

LeBron James Nearly Paid $4 Million Over a Failed DNA Test With an Impostor Claiming to Be His Father

Add us on Google

Pragya Vashisth

Jun 26, 2022 | 12:30 PM EDT

LeBron James is a brilliant example of rags to riches story. He was raised by his mother, Gloria, as she had LeBron when she was just 16. James had a tough childhood as he had to move around a lot with his mother who was trying to make ends meet. They changed houses multiple times. Gloria made sure she took care of her son as he had no father to look up to.

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To this date, LeBron doesn’t know who his father is. As a single mother, Gloria raised a child who has only gone on to become one of the greatest players of all time. As there was no information about LeBron’s dad, one man tried to claim himself as his father. A long case followed, that included DNA tests of LeBron and his mother, which eventually culminated in 2011.

The man, Leicester Bryce Stovell, suddenly appeared in the lives of LeBron James and Gloria more than two decades after the birth of ‘the King’. By this time, LeBron was already a superstar in the NBA and was earning millions. While his mother didn’t want anything to do with Stovell, LeBron asked for a DNA test.

The test proved that Stovell was not the father of LeBron, but Stovell felt the results had been tampered with. After this, Stovell sued LeBron and Gloria for $4 million on the grounds of fraud, defamation, and misrepresentation. The case was dismissed after months by the presiding judge.

Gloria raised LeBron James on her own

The Los Angeles Lakers forward is currently the only active billionaire in the NBA. He rose from nothing to become one of the most recognizable faces on the planet.

The credit for who LeBron is today is likely to be given to his mother, Gloria. She worked hard to make ends meet and she raised a future NBA champion. Off the court, LeBron is now the father of two sons and one daughter. He makes sure he actively participates in their lives because he knows what it was like to grow up without a father.

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Pragya Vashisth

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Pragya Vashisth is the Lead Editor of She Got Game, EssentiallySports’ dedicated WNBA newsletter. With a Master’s degree in Sports Management and experience as a divisional basketball player, he brings both technical expertise and long-standing knowledge of the game to his editorial work. Since joining EssentiallySports in 2022, Pragya has worked across multiple roles, from writer to editor, before taking charge of She Got Game. In this role, he curates coverage of women’s basketball, spotlighting WNBA icons, rising stars, and the defining shifts shaping the league today. Earlier in his career at ES, Pragya was at the center of major coverage for the NBA Legends desk, from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ceremonies to analysis of icons like Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley, helping establish the division’s identity and depth. His wider sports management background, which includes event operations, accreditation, and spectator engagement, gives him an insider’s view of how professional sports function off the court. With over 15 years of closely following the NBA, Pragya connects basketball’s culture and history with the human stories behind the game, ensuring She Got Game delivers coverage that is fresh, reliable, and meaningful for fans.

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Veer Badani