From the moment Marcus Washington first saw 14-year-old LeBron James practicing alone after hours at the Saint Vincent-St. Mary High School gym, he could tell he was witnessing something extraordinary. It was a Tuesday evening in November 1999, almost 10 PM, and Marcus was wrapping up his janitorial duties. The gym should have been empty, yet he was drawn by the rhythmic sound of a basketball bouncing on the court. Normally, he would have locked up and headed home to his small apartment after a long day of cleaning classrooms and hallways. But tonight was different. Something about the steady dribble intrigued him, pulling him into the gym instead.

When he pushed open the doors, Marcus saw a tall, skinny teenager, LeBron, shooting baskets alone. Even from a distance, Marcus could tell that this wasn’t just any high school player. LeBron moved with an unusual grace, something far beyond his age. Marcus leaned on his mop and casually called out to him, asking if he knew the building was closed. LeBron, startled, quickly apologized, ready to leave. But Marcus, seeing the potential in the boy, smiled and offered a compliment, asking if he could watch for a bit. LeBron agreed, and thus began an unexpected connection that would shape both their lives in ways neither could predict.

As they spent more time together, Marcus observed LeBron’s remarkable work ethic. Despite his young age, LeBron’s skills were already top-notch, and his determination was evident in every shot he took. During their sessions, Marcus would rebound for him, offering encouragement, and LeBron would reciprocate by talking about his ambition. LeBron expressed his desire not just to be the best in Ohio, but to be the best ever. For most teenagers, such a statement might come across as arrogance, but Marcus saw something different. There was no boastfulness in LeBron’s voice—just an unwavering belief in his own potential. Marcus, who had worked in schools for years, had seen many kids talk about dreams of greatness, but LeBron’s sincerity and drive stood out.

As their friendship deepened, Marcus continued to support LeBron. Three nights a week, Marcus would help him practice after hours, sharing stories about NBA legends like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. LeBron absorbed every word, eager to learn and improve. He even confessed that he snuck back into the gym after hours because the coach only allowed freshmen to practice for an hour after school, which he felt wasn’t enough. Marcus, understanding LeBron’s hunger to improve, agreed to let him practice late as long as he kept up with his studies.

By spring of 2000, LeBron’s talent was impossible to ignore. College scouts were attending his games, and his reputation as a freshman phenom grew. But to Marcus, LeBron was still the same hardworking kid he had seen practice late into the night. Despite the growing attention, Marcus remained grounded in his belief that LeBron’s gift was special, not just in terms of basketball, but in the way he carried himself with humility and focus.

As the years passed, LeBron’s rise continued. By the time he was a senior, he was widely regarded as the best high school player in the country, with the entire nation watching his every move. But even as LeBron’s fame skyrocketed, Marcus continued his role as the janitor at Saint Vincent-St. Mary, quietly proud of the boy who had once practiced alone under the gym’s half-lit lights. Their late-night sessions had ended when LeBron’s schedule became too packed, but Marcus never stopped supporting him. He continued to leave notes in LeBron’s locker, offering words of encouragement before every big game. The bond they had formed was unbreakable, built on mutual respect and belief in each other.

When LeBron entered the NBA draft in 2003, Marcus was there, still working at the school. On the night before the draft, LeBron visited the gym, where he and Marcus sat together, reflecting on the journey that had brought them to this point. LeBron, now a confident 18-year-old, expressed some doubt about the immense pressure he was about to face in the NBA. Marcus reassured him, reminding him that pressure only makes diamonds and that LeBron had been preparing for this moment his whole life. It was in that moment that LeBron gave Marcus a gift: his very first high school jersey—the one he had worn when they first met. It was a gesture of gratitude, a way of honoring the man who had believed in him when no one else had.

The jersey, which Marcus carefully framed and hung on the wall of his small apartment, would become a symbol of their unique bond. LeBron’s career took off, and Marcus watched with pride as the young man who had once practiced alone under dim lights became an NBA superstar. Three months after the draft, Marcus received a call from the Cleveland Cavaliers, offering him a job as a locker room attendant. When Marcus asked who had recommended him, the human resources manager simply said, “I believe Mr. James mentioned you might be a good fit.”

Now, as part of the Cavaliers organization, Marcus found himself in a new role, still maintaining the locker room, but this time it was for the team LeBron had joined. Although their interactions were brief, Marcus continued to offer support, always there when LeBron needed reassurance or encouragement. And while the years of late-night practices had ended, their bond remained unshakable. Marcus had been a part of LeBron’s journey long before anyone else recognized his greatness, and LeBron never forgot that.

Through championships, victories, and defeats, Marcus remained a quiet presence in LeBron’s life, offering his support in the background. Their relationship had started with a simple belief in each other’s potential, and it had grown into something far deeper than either could have imagined. And as LeBron’s career continued to soar, Marcus could proudly say that he had been there from the very beginning, witnessing greatness in the making.