LeBron, Inc.: The Making of a Billion-Dollar Athlete

by Brian Windhorst

Overview

From the New York Times bestselling author of Return of the King comes the story of LeBron James's incredible transformation from basketball star to sports and business mogul.

With eight straight trips to the NBA Finals, LeBron James has proven himself one of the greatest basketball players of all time. And like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan before him, LeBron has also become a global brand and businessman who has altered the way professional athletes think about their value, maximize their leverage, and use their voice.


LEBRON, INC tells the story of James's journey down the path to becoming a billionaire sports icon — his successes, his failures, and the lessons both have taught him along the way. With plenty of newsmaking tidbits about his rollercoaster last season in Cleveland and high-profile move to the Lakers, LEBRON, INC. shows how James has changed the way most elite athletes manage their careers, and how he launched a movement among his peers that may last decades beyond his playing days.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538730850
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	04/07/2020
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	161,509
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.95(d)

About the Author

Brian Windhorst has covered the NBA for ESPN since 2010. He began covering LeBron James in 1999 and was the daily beat writer on the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal and Cleveland Plain Dealer from 2003 to 2010. He is also the co-author of three books, including the New York Timesbestseller Return of the King, The Franchise, and The Making of an MVP.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The Power of Saying No 1

Chapter 2 The Bag Man 11

Chapter 3 The Deal of a Lifetime 23

Chapter 4 Four Horses 57

Chapter 5 Failing Up 79

Chapter 6 Cameraman 93

Chapter 7 The Dealmaker 109

Chapter 8 Summer Camp for Billionaires 129

Chapter 9 Taking My Talents 141

Chapter 10 Mogul 169

Chapter 11 I Promise 193

Chapter 12 L.A. 211

Epilogue 225

Afterword to the Trade Edition 233

Acknowledgments 245

Index 247

About the Author 259

Editorial Reviews

04/08/2019

In workmanlike prose, sportswriter Windhorst (Return of the King) focuses on NBA superstar Lebron James’s life as a highly successful businessman. James earned $765 million in salary and endorsements during his 19 years in the NBA, and, as Windhorst writes, “LeBron’s awareness of how he can use his celebrity and popularity to gain leverage in business transactions has fed his bottom line and enabled him to funnel money to charities he cares about without having to reach into his own pocket.” Windhorst chronicles how James evolved from being a high school, first-round draft pick who lived in poverty, to a superstar who had deals with Beats by Dre, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Nike, and others. Windhorst also notes James’s less-than-stellar business gambles, such as the ill-fated Decision TV show in 2010, where Lebron announced that he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to play for the Miami Heat. James’s impoverished upbringing, Windhorst points out, fueled his interest in philanthropic projects, which include building a school for disadvantaged students in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Whether James “reaches his goal of team ownership or he finds a new pursuit is yet to be seen,” Windhorst writes, but “his horizons are still expanding.” This is a shoo-in for business-minded sports fans. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"Windhorst knows himself some LeBron, as he demonstrates here in detailing how a basketball player transformed himself into a shrewd entrepreneur worth well over a billion dollars...A fascinating look inside the prototype for the new corporate athlete."—Booklist

"This is a shoo-in for business-minded sports fans."—Publishers Weekly

"For LeBron devotees and readers interested in the mechanics of off-the-court business dealings, this is a good choice."—Kirkus

"[LEBRON, INC.] explains, as no one has done before, how the business of basketball, including most importantly the endorsement game, is played."—New York Journal of Books

PRAISE FOR RETURN OF THE KING:


"On the surface, this story may seem like it would only appeal to Cavaliers fans — don't be dissuaded. The work illustrates the highs and lows necessary to reach the level of a champion, and will be the basketball book to own in 2017."—Library Journal (Starred Review)

"[A] dishy and fun narrative...With lively writing and rich anecdotes that reveal the struggles that made the triumph anything but inevitable, Windhorst and McMenamin provide the definitive account of the greatest accomplishment of one of the game's greatest players."—The Washington Post

"I've always admired Brian's acumen and his seasoned perspective. This story with Dave McMenamin of LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers' championship run is captivating and filled with spectacular detail."—Tracy McGrady, 7-time NBA All-Star

"Brian Windhorst and Dave McMenamin are courtside and in the locker room for the most improbable comeback in NBA history. Through exhaustive, incisive reporting, the duo have delivered an important, essential book for all NBA fans."—Jonathan Abrams, New York Times bestselling author of Boys Among Men: How the Prep-to-Pro Generation Redefined the NBA and Sparked a Basketball Revolution

"This account of how a championship was built is the best NBA book in many years."—Booklist

"Brian Windhorst and Dave McMenamin don't just cover the NBA. They live it. And in RETURN OF THE KING, their storytelling has never been better. From the decision-making process in the Cavaliers' front office which led to LeBron James' return, to the assembly of a championship roster, to the players-only email from GM David Griffin with the Cavs down 3-1 in the NBA Finals, to the candid exchanges between LeBron and Tyronn Lue, there is nothing left uncovered. Man, what a compelling read!"—Ernie Johnson, studio host of TNT's "Inside the NBA"

"On the court and off, the LeBron James journey back to Cleveland and back to a championship is one of the most intriguing stories in NBA history. Brian and Dave do a masterful job of adding context, details, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes to the signing, the season, and the series. RETURN OF THE KING is a great way to remember all that led up to the Finals and the greatest comeback."—Mike Tirico, NBC Sports

From the Publisher

05/01/2019

In his fourth publication on the NBA superstar, sportswriter Windhorst (Return of the King) focuses on the aspirations LeBron James continues to craft off the court. Beginning with the early recognition of his star power, James placed a high value on authenticity in his business decisions, being unafraid to turn down unsuitable offers and creating a management group with hometown friends in order to have more control over his career and reputation. Although Windhorst's years of reporting on James and the Cleveland Cavaliers may suggest bias, the author presents an honest depiction of the player's successes and follies, including his years with the Miami Heat and recent move to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. Although many books and articles have been written about James becoming a basketball legend, Windhorst's spotlight on business decisions sets this title apart. His 20 years of sports writing shines through the smooth narrative and insightful commentary, leaving readers with a suggestion of the heights James still aims to climb as his retirement from the NBA gets closer to reality VERDICT Highly recommended for NBA fans and readers curious about the happenings behind the scenes.—Katie McGaha, L.A.P.L., Agoura Hills

Library Journal