LeBron James once turned down a $10 million offer from Reebok when he was just 18 years old. While his name has become synonymous with Nike over the past two decades, his journey to signing with the brand wasn’t straightforward.
On the “New Heights” podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce in January, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer shared the story of nearly being swayed by Reebok’s massive offer during his senior year of high school.
At the time, James was preparing to skip college and enter the NBA, where he would be drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Reebok flew James and his mother, Gloria Marie James, to meet their CEO, who made a bold move:
“The guy slides over a check to me and he says ‘If you don’t go talk to any other companies, this is yours,’” James said (42:06). “And I look at it. $10 million f—ing dollars. I was a high school senior!”
The check was for $10 million, a staggering amount for a teenager living in Section 8 housing.
“[I] had never seen that many zeroes in [my] life,” James said.
Unsure what to do, he asked for time to think. Left alone with his mom, James heard her advice:
“Son, trust your gut,” Gloria Marie said. “If they’re offering you this, who knows what the other companies may offer you?”
When the executives returned, James handed back the check and said he wanted to explore his options.
“I may have cried on the way home,” he said. “I was like ‘I could’ve bought the building that me and my mom was living in with that money!’”
James eventually signed with Nike and, years later, landed a reported billion-dollar lifetime deal with the brand in 2015.
LeBron James shines on the NBA’s social media platforms
The NBA generated 225 Million Video views on NBA social media and digital platforms for LeBron’s record-breaking night, the most ever for a regular season game. 🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 9, 2023
(via @NBAPR) pic.twitter.com/Lv11uDMA1B
LeBron James reigned supreme on the NBA’s social media platforms in the 2023 season. While some might debate the significance of social media metrics, the numbers paint a clear picture of his dominance.
As King James chased Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record, he captured the spotlight like no other, racking up with 2.8 billion social media interactions during the regular season, according to the NBA.
For context, no one else came close. Stephen Curry followed with 1.6 billion interactions, trailed by Victor Wembanyama (1.3 billion), Nikola Jokic (1.2 billion), and Luka Doncic (914 million). The numbers cement Legend LeBron James as the King of NBA social media.
READ: When LeBron James Stared at Michael Jordan Before a Fast-Break Dunk
I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
