LeBron James and his mother, Gloria, observing the artwork together. To see my mom represented in this building, it’s a special thing for me.” Just being able to overcome shortcomings, overcome anything in my life, seeing the things that she had to go through. “Everything that she sacrificed for me throughout my life, especially when I was a kid, her dedication to just trying to be excellent, even through adversity, she set me up to be who I am today. “My mom means everything to my journey, everything to my life,” said James. A stained glass and painted mural of the Akron-born icon and his mother spans an entire wall, showing her embracing a teenage James clad in his St.
NIKE SOCCER CLEATS WITH STAINED GLASS DESIGN SERIES
The floor features a series of dots throughout that represent every NBA field goal made by James, who has scored more than 35,000 points over the course of his career.ĭubbed Glo’s Cafe, the first-floor coffee shop and juice bar honors his mother Gloria. Upon entering through the doorway with its golden split “LJ” crown logo, guests take in an expansive entryway, with a basketball hoop-turned-art piece and adjacent cafe. “I was looking up at the building, and it felt like it just kept getting higher, higher and higher.” “At first, the architecture stood out most,” recalled James.
The eight-pane, layered logo at the base of the hill features the names of James’ closest friends and family inscribed along the inner edge of each pane. It includes a 500-foot-long, 15% incline hill just outside for athletes to train on. James said he was “literally shedding tears” when he got the call about the planned building years ago.ĭesigned by Olson Kundig, the cantilevered look features an open-window design throughout. Part of a six-building expansion plan announced in 2016, with original plans calling for an ambitious completion in 2019, the newest building was officially announced as the LeBron James Innovation Center in September. His overall signature business, including shoes, apparel and accessories, is estimated to generate around $600 million annually, according to sources - a basketball industry-best for an active athlete. “The inside of it and the outside of it, the architecture of it, the story behind it, everything that goes on inside this building is unbelievable.”Īfter signing a seven-year, $90 million deal at 18 years old the day before the 2003 NBA draft lottery, James extended his contract again in 2010, and inked a “lifetime deal” with Nike in 2015.
“I’m definitely honored to be one of the Nike athletes to have a building represent their name,” said James. James becomes the first basketball player since Jordan to receive the namesake distinction.
The LeBron Center will be home to Nike’s innovation and research teams, which shape the company’s approach to technology, sport and design. The “MJ” building now houses the Jordan Brand team, while the “Pre” is a welcoming showcase hall for visitors and athlete pitch meetings. That’s a far leap from the 70 acres and eight buildings at the start in 1990, which were named after, among others, Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson and Steve Prefontaine. Spanning more than 85,000 square feet across four floors, the newest building at Nike World Headquarters brings the company’s ecosystem of office space, design studios, research centers and fitness facilities to nearly 80 structures. Group shot of LeBron James and his friends, from left to right: Willie McGee, Frankie Walker, James, Brandon Weems, Sian Cotton and Romeo Travis. Mary High School, James’ Fighting Irish teammates, Romeo Travis, Sian Cotton, Willie McGee and Brandon Weems, along with childhood friend Frankie Walker, all made the trip west. The four-time MVP had been looking forward to the trip once the season’s calendar was revealed, and he was joined by his mother Gloria, wife Savannah and their three children, along with a group of friends and family from Akron, Ohio.Įighteen years after they graduated from St. “It’s definitely one for the ages,” James proudly said in an email interview. 5, a car service took him 25 minutes west to One Bowerman Drive for a tour of the newest building on Nike’s nearly 400-acre campus: the LeBron James Innovation Center. When the Los Angeles Lakers trekked north to Portland, Oregon, last weekend, LeBron James was able to take in more than the Saturday night showdown with the Trail Blazers, where he watched his Laker teammates from the sideline as he continues to battle an ongoing abdominal injury.