Lebron James' early life was replete with financial and familial hardships, forcing him to live with his coach Frank Walker. Walker's son, Frankie Jr., played alongside James on the South Side Rangers pee wee football team and they became friends. Together with another group of four children, they formed a strong bond.
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One of the six was Romeo Travis, who currently plays for the French basketball club Limoges CSP. He also enjoys name familiarity among many Israelis owing to his two-year stint in two Israeli basketball clubs some 10 years ago: Elitzur Barak Netanya and Hapoel Galil Gilboa.
Travis, 36, is still one of James' closest friends. Speaking with Israel Hayom earlier this week, Travis shed light on his bond with the world's best basketball player and reflected on his time in Israel.
"Lebron and I had many Jewish friends when we were children, and they would visit Israel and tell us all about the many great things there," Travis said. "When the offer from Netanya came, Lebron advised me to accept it and when I arrived I saw for myself how special and unique your country is."
Q: When Lebron says that he is "still just a kid from Akron," what does he mean?
"Akron is a small city in Ohio. It was hard being a professional athlete there, but Lebron changed that. NOt only is he the best player in the world, he has also made sure to give back to his community by opening a school there; he remembers where he has come from and is well aware that the odds were heavily stacked against him, like many people in Akorn who lack the means and end up engaging in criminal activity and going to jail. When I was a kid it was unthinkable that one of us could pursue a career in sports. But he was special because he changed the world for the people of Akorn."
Q: People speak a lot about Lebron's legacy. What do you believe he wants to be remembered for? What does he want to leave behind?
"He wants to be remembered for all the good things he has done off the court. Many people can play and be good players for many years, but he wants to be remembered for his ideas, for the things he did for the many people in the field of education, for example. He considers these things to be the most important part of his life for him. He wants everyone to know that he has helped as many people as possible."
Q: We all know Lebron the player and the star. Can you tell us something about Lebron the man, and what he is like off the court?
"For me Lebron is someone who played with me and only wanted to help me and make me succeed in all that I do. He is a great man who loves people, who wants the best for all around him."
Q: Is his goal to have his son, Bronny, play with him on the same team?
"Lebron would love to be the first who plays with Bronny; it will be amazing if that would become a possibility, but I don't know if that is his goal as far as he is concerned."
Q: Lebron has already led his team to four championships, and the Lakers are the strongest club in the league. Is he trying to reach Michael Jordan's accomplishment by winning six championships?
"It's not something that he is thinking about. He has been focused on reaching his goals, not meeting others' accomplishments. People argue who is the best player and forget that you just can't compare the two. Everything is exaggerated, even in the case of Kobe Bryant. So six championships may very well happen, but for Lebron, this doesn't matter because he has already achieved above and beyond what he has ever dreamed of, and he is currently the best player there is."
Travis, who at one point was considered the most dominant forward in Israeli basketball, played for two seasons in Israel and even reached several playoffs with his team, including finals and semifinals. His Hapoel Galil Gilboa even one the Balkan League's championship.
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However, he is mostly remembered as a player with a hot temper who could easily be drawn into a violent encounter, mostly because of his very public fistfight in 2011 with a Greek player.
"How can one forget?", he said. "I wish it would have never happened. I was angry and I should have controlled my rage, and many people probably think I love to fight, but I am not like that. I am not a hot-headed guy, I am easy going and funny, despite what everyone thinks."
Q: When are you and Lebron planning on visiting here in Israel?
"As you probably know, he is very busy. I believe that when we both retire from basketball, we will have time. Israel is one of the places I love most, and we would surely want to visit the Holy Land."
