Last week LeBron James took center stage in a drama that sounded like an episode of Entourage, the HBO show about Vince Chase, a simple pretty-boy-turned-movie star who brings his boyhood pals to L.A. to act as support crew.
On May 10, James gave the heave-ho to his agent, Aaro Goodwin. The same agent, mind you, who has negotiated for young King James an impressive string of lucrative endorsements totaling an estimated $135 million n plus a $13 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers n before James ever hoisted a single basketball as a professional.
From now on, however, James’ man, or men, will be Maverick Carter and associates. Carter, Randy Mims and Richard Paul are old friends of LeBron, who is all of 20. Before adding their boy to the fold, they handled deals for n well, no one.
Reebok executive Sonny Vaccaro said, “I talked to Maverick recently and used an old line from The Godfather on him. I said, ‘Maverick, you guys are going to be bigger than U.S. Steel.'” Vaccaro must be thinking ahead to the expiration of James’ contract with Nike in 2010.
This could be the wackiest sports-agent bungle since running back Ricky Williams hired No Limit Sports, owned by rapper Master P, to oversee his first NFL contract back in 1999.
You hear something? That’s the sound of NBA and endorsement dealmakers licking their chops.