Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James is internationally-known for his outstanding skills on the basketball court. In fact, most experts and analysts say he’s the best in today’s game. However, after 14 years of service in the NBA and being dubbed “the King,” it can also be said that James wields an influential sword in the realm of business.
With the start of the 2017-18 season just weeks away, James is (and has been) staying focused on preparing for the upcoming grind. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 Draft is currently hosting a pre-camp workout session with several of his Cavs teammates at UC-Santa Barbara’s campus.
On Wednesday, James took a break from his preseason training in Southern California to record a unique video for the world’s leaders in business and politics who were gathered in New York. “The King,” as he’s known, was invited to open the inaugural Bloomberg Global Business Forum with a message of inspiration. In the short clip, James addressed several important global issues, including climate change and political unrest in various parts of the world.
“I was asked to start this meeting to set a tone, to talk about leadership,” James explained at the beginning of his video message. “But I don’t think anyone in this room needs me to set a tone. We all know what’s happening right now, how hard it is suddenly to understand so much in this world. You’re in this room for a reason — the same reason I’m talking to you — because we’re leaders. We all know the world needs us to step up. Today, the world is looking to you. Listen to them.
“You don’t need me to set the tone,” James said in closing. “All of you know what is happening. But I hope and I pray that you know how much all of us need you now.”
Michael Bloomberg, host of the Global Business Forum, founder of Bloomberg LP, and former mayor of New York City, offered a few words of his own in the video, saying: “As long as we’re talking, we’re not fighting.”
Families all across the globe are facing difficult challenges on a day-to-day basis. Simple luxuries like running water, security, and decent medical attention are taken for granted in most parts of the world. Those same amenities are all but unattainable in other regions.
There will be several speakers at the Bloomberg Forum, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. With any luck, James’ message will inspire these great leaders to take action.