JULY 2019 - AudioFile
Anyone who has followed the NBA even from a cursory vantage knows of LeBron James, basketball great. Chris Abell keeps an interested tone while narrating this audiobook, which is not a biography but rather a focused look at James’s savvy financial investments. Longtime NBA writer Brian Windhorst, who attended the same high school as James, has written a highly readable book—which Abell captures well. He gives quotes from James a slightly different voice—just a bit changed from the narrative. And Abell speaks with a storyteller’s excitement—not giddy but clearly engaged with what he is narrating. An insightful story sheds light on a fascinating aspect of the star’s career. M.B. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
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.)
From the Publisher
"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
JULY 2019 - AudioFile
Anyone who has followed the NBA even from a cursory vantage knows of LeBron James, basketball great. Chris Abell keeps an interested tone while narrating this audiobook, which is not a biography but rather a focused look at James’s savvy financial investments. Longtime NBA writer Brian Windhorst, who attended the same high school as James, has written a highly readable book—which Abell captures well. He gives quotes from James a slightly different voice—just a bit changed from the narrative. And Abell speaks with a storyteller’s excitement—not giddy but clearly engaged with what he is narrating. An insightful story sheds light on a fascinating aspect of the star’s career. M.B. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
