NBA All-Star LeBron James Partners with SapientNitro

LeBron James and SapientNitro, part of Sapient (NASDAQ: SAPE), have announced a partnership that will further develop and expand the NBA All-Star’s digital and social media platforms. The deal unites one of the most recognizable and social media-friendly athletes in the world with a leading marketing and technology services powerhouse, to further innovate James’ digital properties and boost his ability to engage with fans.

 

As part of the partnership with LRMR, management agent for James, SapientNitro will use innovative website design and social media integration to allow fans and brands to connect with LeBron and his community, creating unprecedented access to a world-class athlete and sparking conversation about topics ranging from basketball to community giving. A key component of the collaboration will be the re-launch of lebronjames.com as an ultimate fan destination.

 

“I’m blessed with the best fans on the planet and love engaging with them directly,” said James. “Every day new technologies come out that allow me to take that fan connection to another level. In SapientNitro, I found a partner that has the brand thinking, creative ideas, digital expertise, and global delivery scale to support my expanding ambitions.”

 

James is one of the most recognized and digitally engaged athletes in the world. The NBA superstar and entrepreneur has nearly 10 million Facebook fans and over four million Twitter followers globally. Driven by a strong desire to connect with his fans, James is a pioneer in using technology and social media. He was one of the first athletes to create a fully interactive website, www.lebronjames.com, which includes behind-the-scenes video, information on active living, and a “Young Ballers” section that features hard working athletes making a name for themselves in the world of youth sports.

 

“LeBron was one of the first sports stars to understand the power of digital and social media to create two-way dialogue with his fans,” said Bill Kanarick, chief marketing officer at Sapient. “We look forward to working with LeBron and his team to further build community and fan engagement in innovative ways.”

 

Maverick Carter, chief executive officer of LRMR, added, “Sports marketing and fan engagement are being completely transformed through social and digital media. We are proud of how www.lebronjames.com and our digital strategies have contributed to this transformation. We are excited to partner with SapientNitro to take it to the next level.”

 

SapientNitro services will include brand strategy, communications planning, website design and social media integration. The duration of the LRMR-SapientNitro contract is one year, with the option to extend.