LeBron James became a millionaire two weeks before his high school graduation when he inked an endorsement deal with Upper Deck that included a $1 million signing bonus.
But he earned bigger money six months earlier on a frigid night in December when he delivered in the most pressure-packed moment of his career to that point -- a game against No. 1-ranked Oak Hill Academy broadcast live on ESPN2. He finished with 31 points, 16 rebounds and 6 assists -- fairly standard for him in high school -- and somehow managed to exceed unprecedented expectations.
Before that moment, he was a curiosity.