LeBron James Nike Lifetime Shoe Contract

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Report: Nike signs LeBron to lifetime deal, its largest ever - Ever since he entered the league in 2003, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James has worn Nike basketball shoes. In fact, it's an easy shorthand for keeping track of how many seasons James has been an NBA player. The "LeBron 13" came out this year; James is in his 13th season.

That trend will reportedly continue for the rest of James' career. According to ESPN's Darren Rovell, Nike signed James to a lifetime deal, the largest guarantee to a single athlete in the company's history:

James' business partner, Maverick Carter, told ESPN that he and LeBron have been "in love and obsessed with Nike" since they were kids:

Darren Rovell 

✔@darrenrovell

BREAKING: Nike has signed LeBron James to a lifetime deal. Largest single athlete guarantee in company's 44-year history.

4:04 AM - 8 Dec 2015

 
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The deal is reportedly the first of its kind, at least officially; as Rovell pointed out, it is assumed that Michael Jordan had a de facto lifetime deal with Nike.