LeBron James is one of the most popular sportspersons in the world. Ever since arriving in the NBA in 2003, LeBron has been a force to be reckoned with. During his time in the league, he has made several connections in the entertainment industry as well. However, even before he became popular, he came across a 30-year-old singer, Jay-Z. James was just 16 years old when he met Jay-Z and refers to him as his big brother and mentor.
Both personalities are one of the most influential people in their respective fields. With their African descent and the tight-knit bond that they share, people often confuse them to be related. However, that is not the case. Both have grown up seeing and supporting each other as they chased excellence. Jay-Z announced the winner of the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year award for 2016 which happened to be LeBron.
December 12th, 2016.
JAŸ-Z introduces long time friend, LeBron James, as he wins his 2nd Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Award.
Hov decided to switch up from his usual format, and wrote down a speech. pic.twitter.com/9UWwVSczeT
— 𝑺-𝒊𝒛𝒛𝑯, 𝑶-𝒊𝒛𝒛𝑾 (@ShawnCarterShow) December 12, 2022
Jay-Z has often been praised for discovering huge talents, some of them include Rihanna, J-Cole, Kanye West, and others during his career. LeBron and Jay-Z have remained good friends over the years. Jay-Z has been spotted during LeBron’s games on multiple occasions. With their long friendship, the singer has often mentioned LeBron in his songs. Both have celebrated each other’s success, which shows how deep their friendship is.
How did LeBron James and Jay-Z meet each other?
LeBron and Jay-Z first met each other through a mutual friend, William Wesley. Wesley attended LeBron’s game when he was just a 15-year-old high school basketballer. They quickly befriended each other, LeBron opened up to Wes and told him that Jay-Z was his idol. After hearing this, Wesley arranged a meeting between the two in 2002, where LeBron got the opportunity to meet his idol.
Wes and Jay-Z first met each other in 1999, and years later launched ROC Nation Sports in 2013. Wes was an influential sports consultant and is the reason how the young superstar had the opportunity to meet Jay-Z. Both of them bonded over the years and can be seen appreciating each other and being there during these successful moments.
This moment between Jay-Z and LeBron James pic.twitter.com/FUbr7icrwm
— JAY-Z Daily (@JAY_Z_Daily) February 8, 2023
LeBron James was crowned as the leading scorer in the NBA after surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record. Many celebrities came in to witness the record-breaking moment, and one of them was Jay-Z himself. Jay-Z was engrossed in the game and congratulated King James after he broke the record. It goes to show how supportive both have been toward each other over the years.