After 17 years with Coca-Cola, presenting a wide variety of products, LeBron James signs with rival PepsiCo, sources confirmed to ESPN.
The Los Angeles Lakers star is expected to promote the Mountain Dew brand, which has become one of the NBA’s top sponsors after PepsiCo took over as the league’s official beverage partner in 2015.
James signed with Coke in the summer of 2003 before his rookie season; the company joined Nike and Upper Deck as its most trusted partners. His agreement with Coca-Cola expired last year when the sides could not agree on an extension.
Over the years, James had his own flavor of Powerade and his version of Sprite, and was at the center of a Coca-Cola marketing campaign with Yao Ming for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. first television ad was for Sprite in 2003.
Forbes lists James as the most active player in the NBA in endorsement earnings, surpassing $ 50 million a year.
Front Office Sports first reported the signing.