The Partnership That Built LeBron James’ Empire

"Here's your polo shirt back," said the teenager, handing over the wrinkled uniform. "Thanks for letting me borrow it for school."

The kid? LeBron James.

The shirt belonged to Randy Mims, who at the time was selling cell phones at Cingular Wireless in Akron.

Neither had any idea they were living the first chapter of what would become one of the most fascinating stories in business: how a real executive partnership is built.

From borrowed polo shirts to a billion-dollar operation

Today, Randy Mims is the chief of staff for a global empire. He orchestrates everything—from Nike commercial shoots to NBA championships.

But it didn’t start there. It started with the little things.

When LeBron turned pro at 18, he gathered his growing circle of advisors around a dining room table. Some pushed for traditional sports agents. Others argued for established business managers.

LeBron looked around the room and said simply:

"Randy's going to be with me—every day."

His job description? Basic.

• Handle pregame meals.
• Pick him up from practice.
• Make sure he got where he needed to be.

As former teammate Damon Jones put it: "He was the orchestrator."

But something happens when you prove you can handle the little things—you get trusted with bigger ones.

The role evolves

As LeBron’s star rose, the demands skyrocketed.

• Two corporate partners became twenty.
• A simple daily schedule became a maze of global commitments.
• The stakes moved from game prep to long-term strategy.

"As LeBron grew, I had to grow too," Mims says. "My job duties grew astronomically."

Most people would have gotten lost in the complexity—or worse, used their proximity to power to build their own brand. But Mims understood something fundamental about partnerships.

"It's never about you," Michael Jordan’s confidant told him early on.

While others in LeBron’s orbit built public profiles, Mims focused on being the quiet nerve center of the operation.

Today, coordinating a single commercial shoot requires him to manage 14 different people—from barbers to security to stylists.

But the real magic isn’t in the logistics. It’s in the trust he’s built.

The invisible hand that moves everything forward

When the Cavaliers were imploding in 2015, it was Mims who helped new coach Tyronn Lue understand how to rebuild the culture.

"He told me step by step what we needed to do and how guys needed to be treated," says Lue.

Five months later, they won Cleveland’s first championship in 52 years.

When Kevin Love struggled to connect with LeBron, it was Mims who bridged the gap.

"Since day one, we've always had a special relationship," Love says. "He likes to fly below the radar. That’s what I love about him."

How partnerships actually work

The evolution from borrowed polo shirts to a billion-dollar empire is a slow-burning masterclass in how partnerships are built:

• Start with the fundamentals.
• Grow with the role.
• Stay focused on the mission, not the spotlight.
• Build trust through consistency.
• Use that trust to solve the problems others can’t see.

Twenty-two years later, LeBron’s empire now spans media, sports ownership, and global business.

But one thing hasn’t changed.

As LeBron puts it:

"S---, it’s still a lot of work to be done. So he’s going to be there the whole way."

-Adapted from ESPN’s profile on Randy Sims