LeBron fires agent, friends get job

LeBron fires agent, friends get job

Associated Press

5/10/2005 1:53:26 PM

CLEVELAND (AP) - Cavaliers forward LeBron James has dropped agent Aaron Goodwin, who negotiated more than $135 million US in endorsement deals for the 20-year-old in the past two years.

James sent a standard letter to the NBA players' association on Monday saying he had ended his relationship with Goodwin, union spokesman Dan Wasserman said.

James' surprising decision to drop his agent comes less than two years after Goodwin got him a $90 million landmark deal from Nike - the richest initial shoe contract offered to an athlete.

Goodwin also helped James secure multimillion deals with Upper Deck, Coca-Cola, Bubbilicous and Juice Batteries.

Goodwin did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.



James is expected to turn over some of his management duties to close friend Maverick Carter, a former teammate at Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary High School who currently is employed by Nike. Randy Mihms, who serves as James' personal assistant and road manager, and Rich Paul, another James confidant, also are expected to take on more active roles in his representation.

James and his three longtime friends call themselves the ''Four Horsemen.''

Goodwin's relationship with James dates to the all-star's senior year in high school. Goodwin attended many of James' high school games before adding the young star as one of his clients in 2003.


On the eve of the NBA lottery that year, Goodwin brokered the deal with Nike, which outbid Adidas and Reebok for James.

Goodwin also represents Portland guard Damon Stoudamire, Orlando rookie Dwight Howard, Boston guard Gary Payton and Knicks guard Jamal Crawford.

There's no way this story ends up with a happy ending. Putting friends incharge of that much money is just plain stupid.