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LeBron reveals why he passed up $13m as a poor teenager

As a poor 18-year-old from the projects in Akron, Ohio LeBron James turned down a AU$13 million endorsement deal.

Speaking on his sports news website Uninterrupted, James revealed the incredible story of the offer that could have quickly changed everything for himself and his family.

During his final year in high school in 2003, while his family lived in poverty, an 18-year-old James was flown to the Reebok headquarters in Boston to meet chairman Paul Fireman.

As it turned out, Fireman was about to make an offer that he thought the much-hyped youngster could not refuse.

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Lebron James during his time with the Miami Heat. Pic: Getty
Lebron James during his time with the Miami Heat. Pic: Getty

Speaking with Maverick Carter, James revealed how the discussions played out.

"I saw him writing something and he was talking," James said.

"He had his head down and he was making sure he didn’t get anything wrong on that cheque and when he slid it down there and he said, 'You can take this right now, but you have to promise me you won’t go see Nike or adidas’.

"I was lost for words at the beginning. S'''''', we flew in from Akron, Ohio, from the projects. Our rent was like $17 a month. A month!

"Now I’m looking at a US$10 million cheque that I can go back to high school with the next day.

"I was going back to home room the next morning, so I was like, ‘Holy s''''''’.

“And then for some odd reason I started thinking, if this guy, who is a great guy, and I still love him to this day, but if he’s willing to offer me a US$10 million cheque now, what is to say that Nike or adidas isn’t going to give me US$20 million or US$30 million up front?

"Or to say that, maybe, the upfront money is not even the biggest thing. Maybe let’s start thinking about the back end."

"I still can’t believe I left that US$10 million."

As it turns out, James' self-control and maturity to turn down the staggering offer at the time payed off.

Soon after he had signed a AU$120 million deal with Nike that turned out to be the biggest sponsorship deal ever in the NBA.

Last year he re-committed to the sports apparel giant on a lifetime deal reported to be worth up to US$1 billion.