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LeBron's journey into the business world began with a pivotal partnership with Nike. Back in 2003, as an 18-year-old prodigy, LeBron was the most sought-after athlete in the world, attracting offers from various brands. Reebok was the first to offer a lucrative $15 million deal, but it was Nike that truly recognized LeBron’s potential for brand development. They proposed a seven-year contract worth $90 million, emphasizing a partnership that would enable LeBron to cultivate his own brand rather than just collect endorsement checks.