Fansided

Kia Lands LeBron James As Endorser

ByPhil Watson|
Oct 14, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) smiles during a timeout in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) smiles during a timeout in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James doesn’t just drive a Kia K900 … he’s now an endorser for the official vehicle of the NBA.

LeBron James had been given Kia automobiles before, as part of the bounty for being named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player four times, but had donated them to charity.

But according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com, James is now endorsing Kia after tooling around in the $66,000 K900 this summer.

"“It was a great call to get,” said Tim Chaney, vice president of marketing at Kia Motors America. “We were not actively seeking another endorser, but LeBron told us, after driving the car around this summer, that he liked it so much that we decided to partner with him. He brought us instant credibility.”"

James said in a statement:

"“For me, a partnership has to be authentic and real to who I am and that’s what makes this one so special.”"

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According to the report, James has to arrive at Cleveland Cavaliers games in the car, similar to Tiger Woods’ deal with Buick, which required the golfer to show up at events in one of their vehicles.

The K900 has already shown up in a crossover endorsement—James and “Mr. Monopoly” are rolling into Cleveland sitting in the back seat of the car in a McDonald’s commercial.

For all of his endorsement deals, James has never before had a deal with a car maker. He was well-known earlier in his career for the Hummer H2 that his mother bought him while he was a senior in high school.

Kia is also endorsed by another NBA star, Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin, as well as golfer Michelle Wie and tennis player Rafael Nadal.

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