NEW YORK, Nov 17 (Reuters) - LeBron James is donating $2.5 million to support a Muhammad Ali exhibit at the Smithsonian's new National Museum of African American History in Washington, D.C., the basketball star and the museum announced on Thursday.
The Cleveland Cavaliers forward said he was a longtime fan of Ali, one of the most beloved sports figures in history, who died on June 3 after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's syndrome.
"Every professional athlete, regardless of race and gender, owes a huge debt of gratitude to Muhammad Ali," James said in a statement. "His legacy deserves to be studied and revered by every generation.