No matter what team you support or who your favorite player might be, there is no argument that LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players in history. While I'm a firm believer that MJ will hold the title of "greatest of all time" for many more years to come, I have come to appreciate the athleticism and pure talent that is LeBron James. Since his NBA debut in 2003, "King James" has won two NBA Championships, two Olympic gold medals and is the Cleveland Cavaliers all-time leading scorer. He averages 25 points per game. He's an 11 time NBA All-Star. And as of December 2015, he's signed with Nike for life.
In 2003, LeBron signed a seven-year, $90 million endorsement contract with Nike. The multi-million dollar company took a chance on the fresh out of high school 18-year-old, who hadn't even played a professional game. Twelve years later, James agreed to a lifetime contract. An outside source said that this new endorsement deal is worth more than $500 million. This the first lifetime deal and largest single-athlete contract deal in Nike history. Merry Christmas, King James.
“I’m a very humble man,” James told reporters after practice on Monday, Dec. 7. “It’s been an unbelievable time for myself and my family. I’m just grateful that Nike and Phil Knight and everyone over there just believed in a skinny 18-year-old from Akron, Ohio, and I’m happy to be a part of such a great company. It meant a lot to me even when I signed my first deal just to be with Nike, and it means even more that they've given me this," James said. "It's like I said, very humbling and grateful, and I'm going to continue to do my job and represent the brand the best way I can, like I know how. Hopefully, people see that."
Since his first contract in 2003, Nike has made 13 versions of LeBron’s shoe, the latest released in October of this year. Annual sales for 2015 are estimated to be more than $400 million, according to Darren Rovell, an ESPN business analyst.
In the almost 13 years that he’s been a professional basketball player, LeBron James has also become an extremely successful business man and has made more than just a name for himself. I can’t wait to be teaching my kids about basketball and be able to brag that I’ve seen one of the greats in person. After conquering the NBA and Nike, I’m more than curious to see what’s next for King James.
