INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — LeBron James may go from idolized to immortalized in his hometown.
A GoFundMe account has been established with a goal to raise $1 million to sculpt and erect a life-size statue of the Cleveland Cavaliers star in Akron, where he began his basketball career.
Aaron Carey, who like James played at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, began the campaign to raise money to honour the three-time NBA champion.
Carey tells the Akron Beacon-Journal that he has been in contact with artist Omri Amrany, who has created statues for basketball greats Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. A marketing campaign is underway to attract donors with deep pockets.
James says he is touched by the gesture. He says he does not have any preference on how the statue would depict him.
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