While the details of the agreement have not been disclosed, LeBron will be a Nike athlete even after retiring.
BY JACOB PALMER | DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR
Nike and LeBron James have been tied since he entered the NBA from high school, and Monday the two agreed to a lifetime contract.
While the details of the agreement have not been disclosed, LeBron will be a Nike athlete even after retiring.
“We can confirm that we have agreed to a lifetime relationship with LeBron that provides significant value to our business, brand and shareholders,” Nike said in a statement. We have already built a strong LeBron business over the past 12 years, and we see the potential for this to continue to grow throughout his playing career and beyond.”
“I’m very humble, man,” James told reporters after Monday’s practice. “It’s been an unbelievable time for myself and my family, and I’m just grateful that Nike and [Nike founder] Phil Knight and everyone over there just believed in a skinny-old, skinny 18-year-old kid from Akron, Ohio, and I’m happy to be a part of such a great company.”
A source close to the deal told ESPN that it easily surpasses the 10-year, $300 million deal Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant signed with the world’s largest shoe and apparel brand last summer.
(READ MORE: ESPN)
The deal was negotiated by Main Street Advisors’ Paul Wachter, who oversaw Beats by Dre’s $3 billion agreement with Apple.
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