Nike names new building at HQ after lifetime signee LeBron James
Nike is naming the latest building in its massive worldwide headquarters expansion in honor of LeBron James, the company announced Thursday.
The LeBron James Building is the sixth new building added to the Beaverton, Oregon campus since the expansion began in 2015, and will house Nike’s Advanced Innovation team, including its state-of-the-art Sport Research Lab.
The team is comprised of “scientists, designers, engineers and more, collectively focusing on inventing the products and services that make all athletes better,” according to Nike’s announcement.
The new lab will be five times the size of the current facility, and among the building’s other amenities are a full NBA-size basketball court, 200-meter track, a 100-meter straightaway and an artificial turf field. There will also be a 500-plus-foot ramp at a 15.63% incline on the outside of the building for athletes to train in lieu of natural hills, Nike said.
“It’s so surreal,” the four-time NBA MVP James said. “It’s been an honor to be a part of such a great company for the last 18 years. And to know that a building with my name will reside on campus — it’s truly an honor, and I feel truly special.”
James, 34, is 16 years into his relationship with Nike. He signed his first seven-year deal shortly after being drafted first overall out of high school in 2003, and then four years ago, the involved parties doubled down with a lifetime extension rumored to be worth more than a $1 billion.
More from Yahoo Sports:
