LeBron James and His Crew are Serious about Business

Everyone in the sports business world was shocked when LeBron James fired his agent, Aaron Goodwin, back in 2005. Goodwin was the cat that got Bron that $90 million deal with Nike. But what was even more shocking, is that LeBron hired his "boys" to manage his career and the King James Brand. Three years later, it looks like James and his crew knew what they're doing. In a profile for Esquire Magazine, James explains the reason for the launch of his LRMR Sports Marketing Company, with his childhood friends.
"I thought, if I stopped playing basketball right now, what would my friends have to look back on? They wouldn't have anything to look back on," LeBron told the magazine. "For me to grow as a businessman, and for me to become a man, I decided I've got to start working with guys I can trust -- my friends. Now I don't need to be there for them to get into places, high-prestige places, or to have a business meeting with somebody. LeBron doesn't have to be there."

LRMR: The L stands for LeBron, R for Richard Paul, M for Maverick Carter, and R for Randy Mims, all of them tight homeboys since they were kids. Maverick is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the James brand while LeBron can concentrate on being a better basketball player. But that's not the only thing the crew is designed to do.

"What are we doing differently?" Maverick told the magazine. "One thing we do differently, we like to control -- well, control is a bad word -- we like to be involved in every aspect of the brand we're partnered with: who they're advertising with, what the advertiser looks like -- if it's a commercial, then who's the director? We really strive on the management side once a deal is done, so it becomes a partnership, not just a deal where they pay LeBron, he shows up."

From Coca-Cola, to State Farm, to MSN and a plethora of other "partnerships," looks like there's no slowing down for this team.

Comment by Knowledgelevel on September 18, 2008 at 1:15pm: GETTING TO THE MONEY

Comment by bigb23east1 on September 18, 2008 at 1:47pm: thats some real shit lebron. alot of nigga that make it out the hood say they gone do this and say they gone do that and never make anything happen. thats the way u pose to do it dont procrastinate just get to it. no other better way, do your thang king james.

Comment by Raw Dawg on September 18, 2008 at 2:00pm: It's good that his boys have the intelligence to run his business. Just because someone is your homeboy doesn't mean they can run a business - especially a multimillion dollar business.

Comment by whopper on September 18, 2008 at 3:07pm: PUT UR NIGGAS ON..GOOD SHIT

Comment by Mac Sleepy on September 18, 2008 at 5:24pm: I Can Respect Dat.... I'll Do The Same As Long As My Ni66az Bout Dey Business... Dats Wuts Up!

Comment by Kevin Hicks on September 18, 2008 at 7:13pm: That's what I'm Talking about! If more people would understand that, the world would be a better place.

Comment by REDD on September 18, 2008 at 8:47pm: bron puttin on 4 his niggas!!! CLEVELAND STAND THE FUCK UP!!!

Comment by ORANGE MOUND VET.AKA MR.22 SHOTS. on September 18, 2008 at 9:35pm: THAT'S WAS UP HE PUTTIN HIS NIGGA'S ON WITH SOME POSITIVE SHIT.....

Comment by (P Doves) on September 19, 2008 at 1:05am: King James!! I like what your doing. I wish those who made it out of the hood would come into their senses and do the same. Hey, I run my owe after school program. If you need someone to work in your Non-Profit organization, please let me know.

Comment by WITT$313 on September 19, 2008 at 3:00am: Lebron that's what's up. More niggas that are successful and from the hood need to take notes. You don't have to go door to door and past money out, there's all type of ways to give back to the hood. Like Lebron he put his boys on and now that's going to help their families and friends and so on and so forth, that's how it goes.