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LeBron James is one of the most popular sports personalities in the world. With signature lines of shoes and other merchandise, he has amassed a dedicated fan following over the course of his sporting career.
LeBron's LA Lakers jersey still stands at the top for most sold jerseys over the last season. LeBron also signed a shoe deal with Nike in 2016 which is said to be a "lifetime contract," guaranteeing him over $30 million a year. His signature shoes are one of the most popular purchases by fans worldwide.
The LA Lakers star, however, is also a man of many interests. With an array of non-NBA related sporting events that he dabbles in, LeBron James is also a dedicated follower of football and soccer.
Delving deeper into the franchises he supports and follows, here are three non-NBA sports teams that LeBron James is a huge fan of.
#1 Cleveland Browns
Football is the most popular sport in the United States. Football culture and the NFL season are a staple for people. LeBron James is no exception. Hailing from Akron, Ohio, the NFL team that represents the state are the Cleveland Browns.
LeBron is a huge follower of the Cleveland Browns. Although he has claimed to be a fan of the Dallas Cowboys in the past, he made his feelings clear for the Browns prior to the season opener in 2020.
Having played for the NBA counterpart, the Cleveland Cavaliers, for the majority of his career, LeBron James loves his football too.
LeBron played football in his high school days as a wide receiver with all-state selections. He showed great promise in the sport, but he was set to be a star in the basketball world.
#2 Ohio State Buckeyes
LeBron James has a special place in his heart for Ohio State University. With a great sports program, the college team also looked at scouting the then-future NBA star while he was still in high school.
After going on to have a brilliant career in the NBA, James does look back on his days before joining, often claiming that had he chosen to go to college it would be at Ohio State.
James has since done a lot to show his support for the university program. He sponsored "Beats by Dre" headphones for the football team. Buckeyes' apparel for the NCAA national championship game was also part of the LeBron James line.
Showing his love for OSU without shying away from it, there was a great chance that had he gone to college, even as a one-and-done situation, LeBron James would choose to go to the Buckeyes.
#3 Liverpool
LeBron James has also shown that his array of interests extend to sporting events outside of the country. LeBron invested in the English Premier League's Liverpool in 2011, taking a 2% stake which he purchased for $4.7 million.
Since then, the club has gone on to win several titles, including the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League title, the Premier League title in the 2019-20 season and the FIFA Club World Cup the same year. With the successful nature of investment, LeBron's stake is currently valued at around $44 million.
LeBron James and his business partner, Maverick Carter, have additionally increased their investment in the club to be listed as minority owners. By investing in Fenway Sports Group, which purchased the Liverpool franchise in 2010, the two indirectly became stake owners of the club as well.
The purchase also holds some sentimental value for LeBron. In a conversation with ESPN at the time, LeBron said:
"I think for me and for my partner, Maverick, to be the first two Black men to be a part of that ownership group in the history of that franchise, I think it's pretty damn cool.
"It gives me and people that look like me hope and inspiration that they can be in a position like that as well, that it can be done. It gives my kids at my I Promise School more and more inspiration as well."
Guess the Lakers players!
