LeBron James said he apologized to his wife Savannah because his push for greatness at times made him forget about the importance of family.
James, a four-time NBA player of the year and three-time NBA champion, made the comments on the Road Trippin' podcast, according to USA Today. He was joined on the podcast by teammates Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye, along with Cleveland Cavaliers sideline reporter Allie Clifton
"I am addicted to the process. I'm addicted to the process," James said. "It's so funny. I just told my wife the other day, I apologized to her. She was like 'What are you apologizing for?'
"I said 'Because the journey that I'm on to want to be the greatest to ever play this game or to the point where no one ever forgets what I accomplished, I've at times lost the fact of how important you are to this whole thing. … I want you to understand that along this journey while I'm playing this game there will be times that I lose the fact of how important you and my three kids are – my babies are.'"
Last October, Savannah James, who was the basketball star's high school sweetheart in Akron before they were married, praised her husband and his return to Cleveland in an interview with Essence magazine.
"I couldn't be more proud of LeBron," she said. "He came back and did exactly what he ultimately deep down inside wanted to accomplish for his city. Being back home is a part of what makes us so happy."
"I'm his support system with whatever he needs. If he needs someone to listen to him. If he needs to talk or if he says, 'Hey babe, I'm tired. Can I take a nap?' I will say 'Yeah, baby. Take a nap,' and keep the kids occupied. It's a part of the role that I play as the mother of his kids and being his wife. The balance that I create in our house is for his success. He is very busy and I understand that, and the kids are at the age now that they get it. Being there for him is a huge part of his success."
James also revealed on the podcast that he cries during "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" episode where Will's estranged father shows up but then leaves without a commitment to stay in his son's life, said the Washington Post.
"Every single time, I shed a tear," said James. "It could come from obviously me being part of a single-parent household and never seeing my father and things growing up when I was a kid, but it’s just an emotional part."