LeBron James Turned Down $10 Million From Reebok in High School, and It Was a Brilliant Business Decision
![Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) leaves the court after scoring 25 points in a 106-92 loss to the Sacramento Kings during his NBA debut in Sacramento, California October 29, 2003. The 18-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) leaves the court after scoring 25 points in a 106-92 loss to the Sacramento Kings during his NBA debut in Sacramento, California October 29, 2003. The 18-year-old](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D3BRDY/cleveland-cavaliers-lebron-james-23-leaves-the-court-after-scoring-25-points-in-a-106-92-loss-to-the-sacramento-kings-during-his-nba-debut-in-sacramento-california-october-29-2003-the-18-year-old-6-foot-8-james-first-pick-in-the-2003-nba-draft-made-his-nba-debut-in-sacramento-wearing-his-signature-nike-shoes-dubbed-the-zoom-generation-james-signed-a-multiyear-endorsement-deal-with-nike-for-a-reported-90-million-dollars-reutersmike-blake-mb-2D3BRDY.jpg)
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) leaves the court after scoring 25 points in a 106-92 loss to the Sacramento Kings during his NBA debut in Sacramento, California October 29, 2003. The 18-year-old
![When LeBron James chose Nike in 2003, he gave up $28 million — it could end up making him $1 billion - MarketWatch When LeBron James chose Nike in 2003, he gave up $28 million — it could end up making him $1 billion - MarketWatch](https://s.marketwatch.com/public/resources/images/MW-HQ319_lebron_ZDR_20190828142017.jpg)
When LeBron James chose Nike in 2003, he gave up $28 million — it could end up making him $1 billion - MarketWatch
![Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) drives to the hoop past Sacramento Kings Mike Bibby (L) and Doug Christie (R) during his NBA debut against he Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, California October 29, Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) drives to the hoop past Sacramento Kings Mike Bibby (L) and Doug Christie (R) during his NBA debut against he Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, California October 29,](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D3CP57/cleveland-cavaliers-lebron-james-23-drives-to-the-hoop-past-sacramento-kings-mike-bibby-l-and-doug-christie-r-during-his-nba-debut-against-he-sacramento-kings-in-sacramento-california-october-29-2003-the-18-year-old-6-foot-8-james-first-pick-in-the-2003-nba-draft-made-his-nba-debut-in-sacramento-wearing-his-signature-nike-shoes-dubbed-the-zoom-generation-james-signed-a-multiyear-endorsement-deal-with-nike-for-a-reported-90-million-dollars-reutersmike-blake-pp03110002-mb-2D3CP57.jpg)
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) drives to the hoop past Sacramento Kings Mike Bibby (L) and Doug Christie (R) during his NBA debut against he Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, California October 29,
![Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) shoots baseline for two points his NBA debut against he Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, California October 29, 2003. The 18-year-old 6-foot-8 James, first pick in the 2003 Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) shoots baseline for two points his NBA debut against he Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, California October 29, 2003. The 18-year-old 6-foot-8 James, first pick in the 2003](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D4GJM6/cleveland-cavaliers-lebron-james-23-shoots-baseline-for-two-points-his-nba-debut-against-he-sacramento-kings-in-sacramento-california-october-29-2003-the-18-year-old-6-foot-8-james-first-pick-in-the-2003-nba-draft-made-his-nba-debut-in-sacramento-wearing-his-signature-nike-shoes-dubbed-the-zoom-generation-james-signed-a-multiyear-endorsement-deal-with-nike-for-a-reported-90-million-dollars-reutersmike-blake-mb-2D4GJM6.jpg)
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) shoots baseline for two points his NBA debut against he Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, California October 29, 2003. The 18-year-old 6-foot-8 James, first pick in the 2003
![When LeBron James chose Nike in 2003, he gave up $28 million — it could end up making him $1 billion - MarketWatch When LeBron James chose Nike in 2003, he gave up $28 million — it could end up making him $1 billion - MarketWatch](https://ei.marketwatch.com/Multimedia/2019/08/28/Photos/ZH/MW-HQ323_lebron_20190828143144_ZH.jpg?uuid=163d1246-c9c2-11e9-8c5b-9c8e992d421e)
When LeBron James chose Nike in 2003, he gave up $28 million — it could end up making him $1 billion - MarketWatch
![Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) makes his NBA debut against he Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, California October 29, 2003. The 18-year-old 6-foot-8 James, first pick in the 2003 NBA draft, made his Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) makes his NBA debut against he Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, California October 29, 2003. The 18-year-old 6-foot-8 James, first pick in the 2003 NBA draft, made his](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D4EHH6/cleveland-cavaliers-lebron-james-23-makes-his-nba-debut-against-he-sacramento-kings-in-sacramento-california-october-29-2003-the-18-year-old-6-foot-8-james-first-pick-in-the-2003-nba-draft-made-his-nba-debut-in-sacramento-wearing-his-signature-nike-shoes-dubbed-the-zoom-generation-james-signed-a-multiyear-endorsement-deal-with-nike-for-a-reported-90-million-dollars-reutersmike-blake-pp03110002-mbma-2D4EHH6.jpg)