Via SneakerMob –
When it comes to off the court or off the field endorsements for athletes, McDonald’s has always been seen as the pinnacle, considering they now serve roughly 800 zillion people worldwide.
Not for LeBron James, though.
The Cavs’ superstar has decided not to renew his option with Micky D’s in order to pursue an opportunity with Blaze, an assembly-line style pizza joint.
LeBron became an investor in the company in 2012, landing franchise rights in Miami and Chicago, but his new deal will allow him to put the pizza chain, which currently has 88 locations, on the map.
“LeBron came on as a founding investor, and he had been silent and in the background,” said Rick Wetzel, who founded Blaze with his wife, Elise. “Now we’re using him to get our message out there and put the spotlight on our brand.”
“This move aligns with LeBron’s brand and his history of helping companies grow faster and bigger as an equity partner,” [Maverick] Carter said.
Neither the company nor Carter would disclose the exact stake James has in Blaze, but a source told ESPN.com that he owns more than 10 percent of the company, which is separate from his stake in Chicago and Miami franchise rights.
