LeBron James’ mother wanted him to accept Reebok’s offer after holding a $10 million check: “Gloria wanted to keep that check and walk out”

LeBron decided that he wanted to listen to Adidas and Nike first before making his choice.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is Nike’s biggest athlete not named Michael Jordan. King James has been signed to the Swoosh Brand since he entered the NBA, and his shoe line is now on its 22nd silhouette, the most after Air Jordan’s 39 models.

While Bron is now a lifer with the brand, he could have easily ended up with another shoe brand if he had listened to his mother, Gloria. In an interview with Andscape, James’ first agent, Aaron Goodwin, revealed that during their presentation meeting with Reebok in 2003, she wanted his son to take the company’s offer right there and then.

“LeBron understood that he had to give that check back to Paul Fireman,” said Goodwin. “Gloria did not. Gloria wanted to keep that check and walk out. But even with that being offered, we had to see what Adidas had to say, and then finally what Nike had to say.”

Reebok dangled a $10 million bonus for LeBron

Fireman was the founder and CEO of Reebok until 2005, when he sold it to Adidas. In 1996, he signed Allen Iverson to the company and established A.I.’s successful shoe line. Seven years later, there was LeBron, who many felt would end up better than Iverson and everybody else, including MJ.

Since the Reebok meeting took place before Bron’s group met with Nike and Adidas, Fireman wondered how he could close out the deal that night. So, he decided to offer him a $10 million bonus if the young forward signed the deal on the spot.

“I remember getting the check, then giving it to LeBron,” added Goodwin. “He and his mom looking at it, and his mom’s eyes watering up. It was an emotional time, the reality of this thing that the two of them had lived their life and worked so hard for was actually happening.”

LeBron was left speechless

In a different interview, LeBron admitted that he was at a loss for words when Fireman handed him the check. He and his mom struggled to make ends meet in Cleveland, and here was their sure way out. But young as he was at the time, LeBron was smart enough not to be lured by Fireman’s $10 million bounty.

James and his group ultimately decided to listen to Adidas and Nike before making their decision. It turned out to be the right move. In 2015, the four-time champion signed a lifetime deal with an Oregon-based brand, reportedly worth more than $500 million. It’s said to be the largest guaranteed money ever in any shoe deal. That’s impressive. But it couldn’t have happened if LeBron had let Gloria decide in 2003.