LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are experiencing the growing pains that have become the norm with new faces arriving in Cleveland every off season. When the four-time MVP came back to ‘The Land’ from Miami, the Cavs started with a record of 19-20 before hitting their stride and making their first NBA finals since 2007. It’s frustrating times for the Cavs’ leader, but he understands the process and what it takes to be successful in the long term.
James himself has started the season in typical fashion, putting up great numbers and orchestrating the offense while point guard Isaiah Thomas recovers from his hip injury, and Derrick Rose gets familiar with the offensive schemes. It hasn’t translated into as many wins as he had hoped early on, but it’s only a matter of time before the Cavs gel and really take the league by storm.
As we know, the three-time champion is always doing his thing on the floor, but he remains busy outside of Quicken Loans Arena also. Already a successful businessman, LeBron James has since continued his era of dominance off the floor, filing to trademark the phrase “Nothing is given. Everything is earned”, per ESPN’s Darren Rovell.
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The phrase is now famously connected with James as it was first used back in the 2014 Sports Illustrated article that announced the superstar small forward would be returning to the Cavs. He is now aiming to make it official, filing for registration with the U.S Patent & Trademark Office.
During that article, James told Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins “In Northeast Ohio, nothing is given. Everything is earned. You work for what you have.” This is a reflection of not only the career of James, but his entire life. Growing up in the inner city of Akron, Ohio, times were tough, and James had to work hard every day to be where he is now.
The filing for the trademark is also connected to James’ I Promise School program, which has plans to build an elementary school in the fall of 2018. He will use the phrase around the school, but will also own the right to the phrase when used on any t-shirts, caps, sweatshirts, or piece of clothing.
If you were wondering, LeBron James also owns the phrase “Just A Kid From Akron”, which is very fitting for Cleveland’s favorite son.