Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

'More Than An Athlete' is more than a documentary

Originally posted on The Sports Fan Journal
By Johnathan Tillman | Last updated 1/26/19

“More Than An Athlete” is an eight-part series airing on ESPN+ that focuses on four childhood and young adulthood friends from Ohio.

LeBron James and Maverick Carter were high school teammates at St. Vincent-St. Mary, Randy Mims was LeBron’s big brother-type friend while LeBron was in school and Rich Paul is a Cleveland-born businessman who became friends with those three early in LeBron’s NBA career. The documentary chronicles the group of four through pivotal moments in LeBron’s career, highlighting each individual’s role in the team of businessmen. It also provides insight into their respective psyches, in traits they share and where they’re uniquely complementary to each other. For example, Carter talks about his natural curiosity and how that spurs him to try most things. This stems from a trait they all share — an inner belief that is supported and empowered by one another.

One of the most common traits they share? They are all willing to find out an answer to something that they want to know and improve at it. Paul, instead of just being around and on LeBron’s payroll, interned at widely known sports agency CAA. This led to him becoming LeBron’s agent, much to many people’s surprise and dismay, but fully supported without a doubt from King James. Now, Paul has his own agency, Klutch Sports, with a bevy of clients that includes Ben Simmons and Anthony Davis, with whom he is always in contact.

Yes, 18-year-old LeBron was a kid with unlimited potential. But just as he could fail as an NBA player with all the gifts he possessed, Paul, Carter and Mims could have been terrible businessmen if they had not turned that belief and curiosity into everything they’ve ever thought of. It could have been another tale of the NBA star and his “posse,” a term that carries racial undertones as well as a negative connotation.

Another trait they all share is continuously striving to be better and to do more. Greatness is unrelenting. There is no end to the potential of self. In one of the later episodes, LeBron says, “[they’re] just getting started.” This is a man who has accomplished everything in basketball and extended his generosity into philanthropy. Yet he, and the other three, believe there is more to do and more ways to help others.

Four individually impressive men bonded through support, discipline and accountability have formed an amazing team, focusing on being the best people they can possibly be in the pursuit of collective and unique passions. I encourage everyone to find a way to watch, “More Than An Athlete” somehow. It is worth the subscription to ESPN+.

This article first appeared on The Sports Fan Journal and was syndicated with permission.

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