Good soundbites are concise, candid, clear, credible, and conversational. LeBron James is a master. Since his recent move from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the LA Lakers, all eyes and ears have been on him.
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With news of his move to Hollywood, television networks NBC, The CW, HBO, and Netflix have all jumped at the opportunity to work with him. Recently, Mr. James was interviewed on Ellen, to promote Warners’ animated feature, Smallfoot, to which he lends his voice.
Mr. James seems not to mind the attention. “No…”You gotta understand, I’m an only child. I like people.”
In August, Donald Trump took a shot at Mr. James when saying that Don Lemon, “the dumbest man on television… made LeBron look smart.”
Mr. James remained unfazed. “That’s like somebody saying I can’t play ball. That doesn’t bother me. What bothers me is that he (the president) has time to even do that. He has the most powerful job in the world. Like, you really got this much time that you can comment on me?”
A Soundbite Says it All
Through it all, Mr. James continues to stay true to himself. When asked whether he plans to work out the following day, Mr. James easily replies, “That’s like saying, ‘Am I going to breath tomorrow?'”
Besides basketball, Mr. James is outspoken about race. As the Hollywood Reporter stated, “One reason James has the activist credibility he does – especially in the black community – is that he has not forgotten where he came from.”
In July, he opened the “I Promise” School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Currently enrolled are 240 third and fourth graders, with the goal of having 1,200 students by 2022.”
The LA Times asked Mr. James what makes him feel pressured. He replied simply, “Nothing.” Mr. James believes, “If we continue to work the process and we continue to sacrifice for one another and put in the commitment and time to being great, then everything else will fall into place.”
