LeBron James, now synonymous with Nike and a billionaire athlete, recently revealed he almost signed with a different company during his senior year of high school. Appearing on Travis and Jason Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer shared how close he came to accepting an eye-popping offer from one of Nike’s rivals.
The Tempting $10 Million Check
As a high school senior preparing to skip college and enter the NBA draft, James had three major brands vying for his signature: Nike, Reebok, and Adidas. Reebok, in particular, made an aggressive move to secure the young phenom.
“They flew me and my mom out for a meeting with their CEO,” James recalled. “The guy slides over a check to me and he says, ‘If you don’t go talk to any other companies, this is yours.’”
The check was for $10 million, a staggering sum for an 18-year-old living in Section 8 housing with his mother.
A Moment of Reflection with His Mother
Overwhelmed by the offer, James asked for a moment to think. Alone with his mother, he grappled with the enormity of the decision.
“Me and my mom were living in an apartment. Section 8 housing. I’m going back [after the meeting], I don’t have s—t,” he said.
His mother, Gloria James, gave him advice that would prove to be life-changing: “Son, trust your gut. If they’re offering you this, who knows what the other companies may offer you?”
Taking her advice to heart, James made the difficult decision to turn down the check and explore his options.
“I May Have Cried on the Way Home”
Handing back the check was no easy task for the teenager. “I may have cried on the way home,” James admitted to the Kelce brothers. “I was like, ‘I could’ve bought the building that me and my mom was living in with that money!’”
Despite the immediate temptation, James stayed focused on the bigger picture.
The Billion-Dollar Payoff
James eventually signed with Nike, a decision that would not only launch his basketball career but also secure his financial future. In 2015, Nike cemented their partnership with James by offering him a lifetime contract reportedly worth $1 billion.
Looking back, the choice to turn down Reebok’s $10 million offer was a gamble, but it ultimately became one of the most pivotal decisions of his life.
A Legacy Beyond Basketball
Today, LeBron James is not just a global basketball icon but also a business mogul and philanthropist. His partnership with Nike has led to countless successful shoe lines, endorsements, and collaborations, further solidifying his legacy both on and off the court.
As James reflected on the podcast, the decision to follow his gut and his mother’s advice changed everything: “That was a billion-dollar piece of advice – literally.”