How Nike’s $90 Million Bet on LeBron Paid Off
11 Aug 2026 3 minute read 1 comment mikey3108
A photograph highlighting the importance of LeBron to Nike. (Source: Flickr) In 2003, Nike made one of the biggest gambles in sports business history. LeBron James was 18 years old and had never played a minute in the NBA. Yet, before the Clevela...