hooting The Decision
By Sports Illustrated Photographer Walter Iooss, Jr.
I've seen a lot of entourages, but none like LeBron James.
In July 2010 I got an assignment from Nike to shoot LeBron right after his TV special announcing his move to the Heat.
We rented the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, where the Lakers and the Clippers used to play, and there were 53 people on my crew -- including hair and makeup artists, production people, a stylist. I had $10,000 in Hollywood lighting. It was huge.
When LeBron arrived, it was as if Nelson Mandela had come in.
Six or seven blacked-out Escalades pulled up, a convoy.
LeBron had bodyguards and his masseuse. His DJ was already there, blasting. This for a photo shoot that was going to last an hour, tops.
This is how crazy it was: I wasn't even allowed to talk directly to LeBron.
There was a liaison, someone apparently from Amar'e Stoudemire's family. I would say to him, "O.K., have LeBron drive right," and then he'd turn to LeBron and say, "Ok LeBron, go right."
LeBron had guards in the portals on the mezzanine level, talking into their hands. Really, what was going to happen? And then at the end of the shoot they all got in the Escalades. My God, I've been around Michael Jordan, but with him nothing even came close to this. Unimaginable.