(photo by hypebeast)
Today, the powerhouse of athletics NIKE has signed NBA superstar of Cleveland Cavaliers Lebron James to a guaranteed lifetime deal with their company. Its said to be the biggest deal ever done in the 44 years by the company. Nike was reported as saying
“”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.”

James was quoted as saying “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.”

This is a big deal all around the board and shows that Nike is very serious about what they believe James can do for the brands way beyond his basketball playing days. I could definitely see James as a household name 10+ years down the line in the Nike franchise. Nike has made 13 versions of James’ signature shoe, while this last year 2015 the sales for his line are estimated around $400+ million. He is a household name on the court of course but off the court he is a powerful philanthropist who invest in his community by way of paying for kids college educations in order to give them a chance to be more than their circumstances. Lebron James stands for more than just a sneaker and a jersey, he bring real value to Nike brand in so many ways. Lets not forget his strong relationships ties with some of the most notable and influencial individuals like Jay Z, Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine to name a few. The King James is a brand on its own as well, so together Nike and James make a great team.