LeBron James has praised Jay-Z as one of his "biggest inspirations", describing the rapper and mogul as a "big brother" who has shaped his approach to business and life since they first met when James was 16. The comments, made during a conversation with Boardroom's Rich Kleiman at the CNBC Sport x Boardroom Game Plan Summit in New York, highlight the enduring bond between the two figures, which spans 25 years and has seen Jay-Z regularly attend James's games throughout his NBA career.

James recalled first meeting Jay-Z in Chicago and later in New York, saying he and his circle quietly absorbed how Jay-Z carried himself professionally, from his business dealings to how he interacted with people. While Michael Jordan remained his primary basketball inspiration, James said he never got to spend time with Jordan personally, whereas Jay-Z's mentorship has directly influenced his off-court decisions; both men also bonded over growing up in project housing, James in Akron's Elizabeth Park Projects and Jay-Z in Brooklyn's Marcy Projects. The remarks come as James, now a free agent after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, prepares to enter his 24th NBA season.