Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has long been one of the more recognizable players in the NBA, and considering all he’s accomplished in the league, it’s easy to see why.
From MVP awards and All-NBA appearances to NBA titles, there seemingly isn’t much he hasn’t achieved in the best basketball league in the world.
But ESPN’s Brian Windhorst disagreed with comments that James made in which he claimed he never asked to be the face of the NBA. Windhorst argued that James “of course” chose to be the face of the league.
LeBron: "Why do you wanna be the face of a league when all the people that cover our game and talk about our game on a day-to-day basis shit on everybody."
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) February 28, 2025
Windy on Lebron:
"He chose to wear 23. He also said I never asked to be the face of the league. Of course he asked to be the face of the league. He signed a $90 million Nike contract. Why? Because of Jordan" pic.twitter.com/aiQLUUH7hL
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) February 28, 2025
Windhorst made multiple solid points in his argument. For one, he pointed out the fact that James made a conscious decision to wear No. 23 — the same number worn by Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan — for much of his pro career. James wore that iconic number for the entirety of his first and second stints as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers and has worn it for the lion’s share of his Lakers tenure.
He also cited that James turned down more money for a partnership with Reebok in 2003 to sign with Nike, the brand that Jordan helped turn into a household name. He signed a seven-year, $87 million deal with Nike despite the fact that Reebok offered him a whopping $115 million.
All in all, James seemingly asked to be the face of the league, even if he did so indirectly.
However, James has more than lived up to the expectations that come with being the face of the NBA. He is widely considered to be among the greatest players in the history of the sport, and he still has time left in his career to accomplish even more.
James will be gunning for the fifth title of his NBA career later in the year. With none other than guard Luka Doncic as his partner in crime, James and the Lakers sit as the No. 4 seed in the West and have been playing great basketball lately. Los Angeles extended its current winning streak to four games with a win over Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
