For Cavs, it's LeBron or bust



The high school standout signed a $90 million deal with Nike.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James has always idolized Michael Jordan right down to his shoes. Now the high schooler will begin his NBA career just like Mike.
Only with a lot more money.
James will go into the league with a swoosh after agreeing to a deal with Nike worth more than $90 million.
James, expected to be the No. 1 pick in next month's draft, agreed to terms on the largest shoe endorsement deal ever, choosing Nike over Adidas and Reebok.
Card deal
James also signed an exclusive multiyear contract with Upper Deck trading cards Wednesday.
When Jordan signed his first contract with Nike in 1984, it was for $2.5 million over five years.
The shoe deal came less than a day before James was to learn where he'll be wearing his shoes as a pro.
The NBA holds its draft lottery tonight, and the winner gets the right to select James, a three-time Mr. Ohio in Basketball and the consensus national player of the year the past two years.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets, who tied for the league's worst record this season, have the best chance at getting the top pick.
The Nuggets and Cavaliers tied for the worst record in the league at 17-65, and each will have 225 of 1,000 lottery chances, or 22.5 percent.
Toronto (157 chances), Miami (120), the Los Angeles Clippers (89), Memphis (64), Chicago (44), Atlanta (29), New York (15), Washington (14), Golden State (7), Seattle (6) and Houston (5) also have a shot at picking No. 1.
In good company
Terms of the deal with Upper Deck were not immediately available, but company spokesman Jake Gonzales said James' contract is on a level with previous agreements signed by Jordan, Tiger Woods and soccer star David Beckham.
Boone said the trading card deal included a $1 million signing bonus.
"Every kid who plays sports aspires to be the best and be part of a winning team," James said in a statement. "Today's deal with Upper Deck not only means that I've joined a team that is the leader in the collectibles industry, but also allows me to be part of a team of world class athletes representing their products."
Gonzales said James is the youngest person ever signed by Upper Deck, whose other spokesmen include Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui.
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