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LeBron James has achieved just about everything there is to achieve in the NBA. The MVPs, the championships, the individual accolades, the records, the numbers, he’s done it all. While these achievements have led him to be regarded as arguably the greatest player that’s ever graced the league, a strong argument could be made that the greatest nod to his legacy will be what he achieved off the floor.
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James not only changed the on-court product but also transformed the business side of basketball. His childhood friends came along for the ride. He opened doors to athletes in ways no one else ever has. He made it a mission to leave the league in a more gentrified state than when he found it.
In the midst of all of that he’s also grown into one of the all-time great mentors in the game’s history. Young players have looked to him for guidance. There have been countless beneficiaries, both public and behind the scenes, of his selflessness in that respect.
One of those who hadn’t fully opened up about what LeBron did for his career until recently is former defensive guard Patrick Beverley. In a recent interview with Zach Randolph and Tony Allen on the “Out The Mud podcast” podcast, he revealed that James helped become a pro and eventuall sign with Nike, among other things.
“I was driving one day and I got a call from a guy called Ramos. If anyone knows LeBron, his right-hand man is Ramos. He said ‘Bron likes you a lot. He remembers you from camp. He likes your story, I think it would be good for you to tap in with Bron’. I said, ‘of course, what you mean, this is LeBron James’. He sent me LeBron’s number. It came across I was on the highway and I’m showing my trainer that I have LeBron’s number. I called him and put it on speaker,” he
“I said to him ‘whatever you can teach me, teach me, I’m a soldier. Help me be a better basketball player. Help me read the game. Don’t be easy on me bro. Be hard on me. Show me how to be a better father. Show me. Show me every step of what it takes to be successful in the NBA’. He said done and hung up. He showed me how to be a pro. I was with him off the court too. I’m watching how he moves. I signed my first shoe deal with Nike, with LeBron. I was wearing LeBrons. He signed me to my first Nike deal,” Pat added.
Leaning on the King
Beverley wasn’t a high-end lottery pick that walked into a perfect situation. He was the 42nd overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Lakers and was immediately traded to the Heat the next day. There, he was able to spend considerable time with LeBron both in the facility and outside the arena. He would pick his brain every opportunity he had. Day by day, even though he wasn’t part of the team’s long-term plans, a strong relationship formed.
Pat eventually decided to play internationally before getting a real opportunity in the league. There are no guarantees with second-rounders, but once you leave American shores, it’s always incredibly difficult to return.
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Beverley wasn’t going to take no for an answer, though. He scratched, clawed and forced himself back into the fray, often with James watching from a distance.
Over the years, that bond remained. It didn’t matter if they were playing basketball on two different continents at times; Beverley knew the four-time MVP was just a phone call away. As he also notes, having direct access to LeBron was surreal and something he never took for granted.
Endorsement heaven
Nowadays, the partnership between Nike and LeBron is an institution in of itself. Not only because James was one of the first athletes to be handed a lifetime deal under the brand, but because their approach to business and basketball changed the game forever.
Pat Bev revealed that he was a small part of that empire, being signed under LeBron’s umbrella within the brand. It was a “pinch me” moment for him, and a clear indication that he was taking the advice on board and doing everything in his power to maximize his career.
What we know now is that Pat Bev etched out a successful 12-year career in the league, but not many knew how influential LeBron has been to him along the way.
Related: “There were no planes, no buses” – Patrick Beverley talks about his wild experience playing in the Ukrainian second division for $6K a month
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This story was originally published September 14, 2026 at 6:47 AM.