LeBron James signed a lifetime deal with Nike last month for an undisclosed amount. The Cleveland Cavaliers forward joined the company in 2003 when he was still in high school.
The athletic company recently came under fire in Kanye West’s “Facts” song where the Chicago rapper says Nike treats “employees just like slaves” among other disses. James is named in the track as well.
“Gave LeBron a billi’ not to run away,” West, who used to collaborate with Nike for his Air Yeezy shoes, says. West now partners with adidas.
James is asked about the song by Cleveland.com and says that he does not agree with West’s assessment of Nike.
“Obviously I’m going to side with Nike no matter who it is,” James says. “It’s just, it’s family when you talk about Nike, and I’m always on their side no matter what the situation is.”
The two-time NBA Champion says that people should assess Nike based on the quality of athlete that the brand represents.
“We just try to put the best athletes that we can out on the floor every night,” he says. “And [Nike co-founder and chairman] Phil Knight’s greatest saying is ‘Always listen to the heart of the athlete listen to the words of the athlete.’ And that’s all it’s about, nothing else.”
This was a great story.
“when you talk about Nike, and I’m always on their side no matter what the situation is.”
I’m a huge Cavs fan since the mid 90’s (when their best player was Terrell Brandon) and am a big LeBron supporter, but this quote is just absurd.
Really Bron? No matter what? Like child labor slaves….. that’s cool with you?
Adidas uses child labor too, so Kanye is just a fucking hypocrite
Next time someone gives your a $Billion, check the resolve of your integrity.
Exactly, most of these clowns on here would say anything for a free pack of newports. When someone gives you a billion dollars you better be loyal; they’re feeding your family so you protect them at all costs.
But Nike sells more than Addidas soooooo. You need to get your facts straight.
Kanye is fucking stupid. Adidas uses the same type of sweatshops Nike does. The song is stupid.
Kanye and his mentally ill fans are being exposed by the minute. 2016 is here and it’s not playing. Kanye is a fucking fag that wants to “beef” with the Fashian Industry and Nike, but portray that he’s a gutter hood slash Creative nigga at the same time how wack can you fucking get? FOH
Calm down bro, this ain’t a race. Lol. You take shit way too seriously. LMAO…
” and I’m always on their side no matter what the situation is……” — that my friend, is selling your soul. I understand, Lebron siding with Nike. But, that statement and calling them family because they handed you checks is quite extreme
Selling his soul to whom? When people say that I wonderful who is the buyers of said souls.. It’s business. This is America.. a capitalizeday country. He is not selling anthrax or investing in blood diamonds or something. It’s shoes. And as long as he provides for him and his that is all that matters.selling your soul is like a trade off illuminati style in my opinion
Love Kanye’s music, always have, even 808’s and Yeezus, but his shoes and clothes for Adidas are ugly AF! Yet again he sounds like a spoiled little kid because Nike wouldn’t let him do whatever he wanted, when he wanted.
To say “Yeezy jumped over the Jumpman” is crazy, there is no way, NO WAY his fugly Yeezy kicks MOVE MORE UNITS than Jordan retro’s, they may sell out quicker but that’s only because people know Yeezy Stans will pay thousands of dollars on the secondary market to look like their deity!
Give me a pair of Jordan IV’s, some AF1’s or even Dunks & Cortez ahead of any of these awful “high fashion” kicks!
You can’t call an evil conglomerate like Nike family. Come on son.
Y’all muthafuckas who are siding with your hero Kanye, jumping ship to Adidas and getting rid of your forces, let me know. I’ll give you $10 a pair.
That song was just legit awful, gotta admit. Sounded like a retard trying to write his own Drake-esq tune… Expected better from Kanye.
he murdered drake..really listen to the lyrics and compare jump man to facts…future saying ekrvljtrwenecgjkretvhcke …bandwagon much?
Lebron James is a Nike slave owner! He makes more money from his over-priced shoes in a few minutes than a Nike sweat-shop worker does in 10 years. Tell me that is not defacto slavery!! Who is stupid enough to spend upwards of $180 on a pair of Lebron James basketball shoes anyway? You can buy some food with $180. Boycott Nike!! Boycott James!!
What???? Nike chooses the highest quality athletes to represent them and that justifies wage slavery, child wage slavery, and sweat shops in Asia?? That’s the biggest load of horse shit any corporation has ever dumped! Boycott Nike!!