LeBron James paid the “journalist” who interviewed the hoops megastar for the ESPN special that revealed his decision to sign with the Miami Heat, it was revealed yesterday.
Jim Gray, a freelance sports reporter, was paid by an entity set up by James’ marketing team, not by ESPN — a fact not disclosed to the sports network’s viewers during Thursday’s softball interview, CNBC reported.
POLL: HOW MAD ARE YOU AT LEBRON?
“We aren’t privy to Gray’s arrangement. He came as part of the package” offered by James’ marketing team, ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz told The Post. “We accepted Jim knowing we would have extensive time for our people to interview LeBron, which was the bulk of the show. We paid [Gray’s] travel expenses.”
A source told The Post that Gray had helped save his job as host of Westwood One radio’s pregame Monday Night Football show by personally soliciting ad sponsorship from the University of Phoenix. That cyber university’s logo and donation of scholarships to the Boys and Girls Club of America were highlighted during Thursday’s ESPN show.