Nike Headquarters is based out of Beaverton, Oregon where they have recently announced the launch of the newly built “Lebron James Innovation Center” in honor of the sponsored athlete. Lebron previously signed a $90 million deal with the popular athletic-wear brand back in 2003 after first making his appearance in the NBA; the rookie was just 19-years-old when he made this agreement, solidifying the contract as the largest made deal with a first-year professional athlete. Fast-forward 18 years and Nike has now stained the 36-year-old NBA star as their main business model and one of the most successful athletes to stick with the company for all these years.
The LBIC is an enormous 750,000-square-foot facility that includes multiple athletic pieces of equipment along with the space and aesthetic one needs to improve on their physical/mental well-being. The center comes equipped with a full-size basketball court, a 100-meter straightaway run, a 200-meter endurance track course, and an artificial turf training field, designed to be practiced on by any professional sport. When asked what having this created for him felt like and meant to him, the four-time NBA champion replied with:
“Over the course of my career and my time here at Nike, for all of this to come together is surreal. Sometimes it does not make sense to me, but I am definitely honored. Having my name on the Innovation building feels very fitting because I am always trying to figure out ways that I can continue to innovate and continue to break the timeline of what they say is your prime.”
Heading into the 2022 basketball season, the Los Angeles Laker will be a part of the NBA’s newest ‘big four’ consisting of himself, Anthony Davis, Carmelo Anthony, and Russell Westbrook. They previously faced off against the Brooklyn Nets in the first game of the preseason this past Sunday, October 3, suffering from an eye-boggling 123-97 loss. Lebron and the Lakers look to regroup and show the league that they are here for a championship in their next game against the Phoenix Suns this upcoming Wednesday, October 6.