When LeBron James signed with Nike in 2003, it was a major story at the time, and many couldn’t help but wonder if chasing Michael Jordan had anything to do with it. According to LeBron, however, he never signed with Nike because of Jordan. It was only because of the deal and the chance to get his family out of poverty.
“He went on his show and said ‘Don’t let LeBron fool you, he wears No. 23 because of Michael Jordan. He signed with Nike because of Michael Jordan.’ No the f*ck I didn’t,” said James on the Mat McAfee Show. “I signed with Nike because I got a hell of a signing bonus, and they gave me a seven-year, $90 million contract, and I moved my mom outta the hood the day after I signed that contract. Ultimately, my whole thing was, what do I want to wear off the court? I want to wear Nike’s.”
LeBron was referencing iconic ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, who once tried to argue how LeBron wanted to overshadow Michael Jordan’s legacy. He explained how James navigated his early career with MJ in mind, striving to one day be the greatest of all time.
There was a narrative for years that LeBron was chasing Michael Jordan’s legacy from the beginning. Besides wearing 23, LeBron adopted the ‘Chosen One’ nickname and embraced his status as the face of the league. Then, in 2003, LeBron (like Michael) signed with Nike, adding his name to the long list of iconic athletes.
While Michael Jordan is known for his affiliation with Nike, LeBron James had different reasons for signing. For one, the deal made him one of the richest teenagers in the world at the time. He was only 18 when he signed the deal, just months before starting his rookie season.
The contract was worth a whopping $87 million over seven years, which set a new record at the time. So by the time he even played his first game in the NBA, LeBron had used his hard-earned money to pull his family out of poverty in Akron, Ohio.
What LeBron didn’t mention was that he actually could have signed for more that summer. Reebok reportedly had a $110 million offer for LeBron, but it still wasn’t enough to impress the King after failing to come prepared with a full marketing plan.
In the end, LeBron made the right decision. LeBron’s lifetime partnership with Nike is worth roughly $1 billion, with an annual payout of $30 million. His shoes are also among the most popular today, selling high volumes across the world.
So, while Michael Jordan may not be the reason for LeBron James signing with Nike, it’s just another thing that LeBron got right on his NBA journey. He made the call to join them and got himself guaranteed wealth for his family. As a bonus, he also got to wear his favorite sneakers on the court with no strings attached.
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