Although NBA superstar LeBron James didn’t attend college, Nike is releasing an Ohio State “alumni” jersey for one of the greatest basketball players of all-time.
James, who grew up in Akron, Ohio, has been a life-long Buckeye fan. He’s been in attendance at games, seen wearing apparel, and oftentimes calls out Buckeyes after outstanding performances on social media.
He’s even gone on record stating that he would have gone to Ohio State if he wasn’t able to go straight to the NBA. Heck, he even has his own locker at the Schottenstein Center to this day (and a wall full of LeBron shoes).
Why wouldn’t Nike want to capitalize on the likeness of one of the world’s most popular athletes? With the name and “23” jersey number, the company is now selling the product with the swoosh and all.
It’s interesting they went with the “23” instead of the “6,” a number James has also worn throughout his career. Here’s a preview of the jersey thanks to Andrew Lind of Buckeye Sports Bulletin.
But, hey, they’re a company, and James will certainly get some royalties from this operation. At the end of the day, the bottom line matters, and even if James didn’t attend OSU, there’s no reason the company cannot capitalize on the idea.
Plus, if you’re Ohio State, you love this for exposure and recruiting. And for Buckeye fans, it has to be pretty appealing to go out and get an Ohio State ‘Bron jersey.
