Dating back to 2004, LeBron James inked his first contract with Nike before he even stepped foot onto an NBA court. This same year, his son LeBron James Jr. (more affectionately referred to as Bronny) was born. Bearing the James family name brings with it attention at all corners of life, and so far, Bronny has lived up to it. His on-court action at Sierra Canyon has NBA teams ready to scoop him up in the draft once he’s eligible in 2024 while also drawing the attention of his father's lifetime endorser, The Swoosh. Now just like his father, Nike has just announced they have signed Bronny James to an NIL (name, image, and likeness) deal prior to his stepping foot in the NBA.
In an official press release from The Swoosh, they look at the partnership as a way for Bronny “to continue supporting the LeBron James Family Foundation and positively [impact] communities that matter most to him.” When asked about the signing himself, Bronny stated “For as long as I can remember, Nike’s been a part of my family. Getting a chance to team up with them and continue my family’s legacy both on the court and in the community is wild—it really means a lot to me.”
When compared to his father's signing with Nike, Bronny inked his deal with The Swoosh approximately 5 months before LeBron. Their respective first contracts are much different, however, as The King was offered upwards of $90 million before stepping onto an NBA court and included a signature sneaker line right out the gate while Bronny is being given around $7 million just for his NIL.
For quite some time, Bronny has been spotted repping various Nike Basketball silhouettes and helped debut/influence his father's latest signature silhouette, the Nike LeBron 20. As of now, we’ll have to wait and see if/when Bronny gets his own model thanks to Nike, but expect to see James Jr. appearing in marketing campaigns and more for The Swoosh. Keep it locked to our Twitter and the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest news in sneakers, streetwear, and more.
Image via gaylorcurier_
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
