LeBron James Credits JAY-Z as a Pivotal Mentor in His Business Career
More than two decades after their first meeting, LeBron James reflects on how JAY-Z shaped his approach to business and professional growth.
More than 25 years after they first met, LeBron James says JAY-Z remains one of his biggest mentors away from the basketball court. Watching the hip-hop mogul return to Yankee Stadium recently brought back memories for James that stretched far beyond the music. Over two decades after their initial encounter, James credits the rap icon with shaping the way he approaches his own business ventures.
Speaking at CNBC Sport and Boardroom’s Game Plan Summit, James reflected on meeting the Brooklyn legend in Chicago when he was just 16 years old. While many in his position might have been eager to ask questions, James and his friends chose a different path: they observed. “We didn’t say much. We didn’t ask for much. We just sat there,” James recalled. “He moved how a person that knows who he is and what he brings to the table is supposed to move. From the business side, to the way he walked, to the way he talked, to the way he greeted people—it was just an aura about him.”
James noted that his early exposure to the artist’s professionalism left a lasting impression. “Literally, my first summer was with them during ‘The Blueprint’ era, 25 summers ago. He’s been one of my biggest inspirations. I say M.J. was my biggest inspiration as far as basketball, but I never got an opportunity to hang with him or talk to him. But Jay is like my big brother. He’s the one who’s given me so much game.”
Today, whenever James faces a significant business decision, he often finds himself considering whether his choices would make his mentor proud. He emphasized that the lessons learned from the rapper go beyond simple financial gain. “You see everything that he’s doing—obviously the music speaks for itself—but all the business ventures… he understood his position of power and how to use that as leverage for the betterment of himself and the people around him.”