![NBA star LeBron James (L) of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chinese national team player Yi Jianlian pose during the "Nike 2005 Battlegrounds" basketball finals in Beijing August 4, 2005. James kicked off NBA star LeBron James (L) of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chinese national team player Yi Jianlian pose during the "Nike 2005 Battlegrounds" basketball finals in Beijing August 4, 2005. James kicked off](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D2GCYR/nba-star-lebron-james-l-of-the-cleveland-cavaliers-and-chinese-national-team-player-yi-jianlian-pose-during-the-nike-2005-battlegrounds-basketball-finals-in-beijing-august-4-2005-james-kicked-off-the-china-leg-of-his-2005-asia-tour-which-aims-to-create-a-cultural-basketball-exchange-amongst-asian-youth-reutersclaro-cortes-iv-cctc-2D2GCYR.jpg)
NBA star LeBron James (L) of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chinese national team player Yi Jianlian pose during the "Nike 2005 Battlegrounds" basketball finals in Beijing August 4, 2005. James kicked off
![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)
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
![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)