---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: LeBron james came, and he gets $10…"
description: "\"LeBron james came, and he gets $10 million a year. There was no stigma or blemish, like you have with one-and-done. Now people say, \"He's not a student..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/sonny-vaccaro-29117_arms_lebron-james-came-and-he-gets-10-million_540904.jpg"
---

#  LeBron james came, and he gets $10 million a year. There…

![“LeBron james came, and he gets $10 million a year. There was no stigma or blemish, like you have with one-and-done. Now people say, &quot;He's not a student, he's an athlete.&quot; Well, of course he's not a student! He's here for one year and he told you he's here for one year, and the school took him with…” quote by Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/sonny-vaccaro-29117_arms_lebron-james-came-and-he-gets-10-million_540904.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/sonny-vaccaro-29117_arms_lebron-james-came-and-he-gets-10-million_540904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/sonny-vaccaro-29117_arms_lebron-james-came-and-he-gets-10-million_540904.jpg)

> “LeBron james came, and he gets $10 million a year. There was no stigma or blemish, like you have with one-and-done. Now people say, "He's not a student, he's an athlete." Well, of course he's not a student! He's here for one year and he told you he's here for one year, and the school took him with open arms.”

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

LeBron’s one‑year college stint shows elite athletes can choose short‑term paths without lasting stigma.

**In simple terms:** Top athletes can attend college briefly without damage.

Key Takeaway

Accept brief college experiences as valid choices.

Themes

sports education career choices

Mood

controversial optimistic

Type

statement observation

When to use this quote

- college recruitment
- media analysis
- career planning

Key Concepts

NCAA rules athlete branding public perception

Questions to Reflect On

- How does a one‑year college stay affect long‑term athlete development?
- What responsibilities do schools have to such athletes?

A Different Perspective

Critics argue short stays undermine academic integrity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Open arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-arms/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Stigma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stigma/) [Student athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student-athlete/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/)

## Related quotes

> [To make films, you have to have something to say. To have something to say, you have to be a student of life. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-nair/to-make-films-you-have-to-have-something-to-say-to-have-something-to/)

[Mira Nair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-nair/)

> [I found my student of the year, and now Tata Nano is searching for India's student of the year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-johar/i-found-my-student-of-the-year-and-now-tata-nano-is-searching-for/)

[Karan Johar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-johar/)

> [The first film set I was on was Karan Johar's 'Student of the Year.' I was somewhere behind in the crowd with many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-agarwal/the-first-film-set-i-was-on-was-karan-johar-s-student-of-the-year-i/)

[Divya Agarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-agarwal/)

> [“I should say a student does well to remain one as long as he can. It seems to me very doubtful that formal education…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-should-say-a-student-does-well-to-remain-one-as-long-as-he-can-it/)

[Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/)

> [There are so many people that, as I go across the country, say, 'I was a student and I used to come see you.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-breuer/there-are-so-many-people-that-as-i-go-across-the-country-say-i-was-a/)

[Jim Breuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-breuer/)

> [My daughter was never offered 'Student Of The Year 2.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amrita-singh/my-daughter-was-never-offered-student-of-the-year-2/)

[Amrita Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amrita-singh/)

> [Paternalistic is a very good word. They think they have to look out for these guys? Don't worry about it. Why? Because of history.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/paternalistic-is-a-very-good-word-they-think-they-have-to-look-out/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [If every university president said, 'The revenue producing sports: basketball, football - potentially revenue producing at most universities - maybe in a few cases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-every-university-president-said-the-revenue-producing-sports/)

[Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/)

> [“Honey, I appreciate that so much, I really do, but it’s not just transferring that I’m worrying about. I’m worried about his mind-set. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/honey-i-appreciate-that-so-much-i-really-do-but-it-s-not-just/)

[Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/)

> [I talk to student-athletes. I try to get them to remember that they're not just athletes, but student-athletes. You need to get an education,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-campbell/i-talk-to-student-athletes-i-try-to-get-them-to-remember-that-they-re/)

[Earl Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-campbell/)

> [I think it's wonderful that students can get scholarships to play athletics at universities. But the fact that you can't do that in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cain/i-think-it-s-wonderful-that-students-can-get-scholarships-to-play/)

[Dean Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cain/)

> [The 7 Practices of Exceptional Student Athletes is an excellent book for student athletes to understand what it takes to be successful. It covers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-ford/the-7-practices-of-exceptional-student-athletes-is-an-excellent-book/)

Danny Ford

> [Two things. First, really get to know and establish relationships with your teammates because they are your new family and they will be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/two-things-first-really-get-to-know-and-establish-relationships-with/)

[Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/)

> [Stop the nonsense about 'student-athlete.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/stop-the-nonsense-about-student-athlete/)

[Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/)

> [If a guy is not serious about being a student-athlete then why force him into the college system. He's not serious about getting education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-williams/if-a-guy-is-not-serious-about-being-a-student-athlete-then-why-force/)

[Lou Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-williams/)

## More by Sonny Vaccaro

> [Now the kids are portrayed as dirty when they talk to an agent, a shoe guy, some hanger-on. Well, it's only natural that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/now-the-kids-are-portrayed-as-dirty-when-they-talk-to-an-agent-a-shoe/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [In terms of my work with Nike, obviously signing Michael Jordan to a $500,000 contract in 1984 set a new precedent for the business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/in-terms-of-my-work-with-nike-obviously-signing-michael-jordan-to-a/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [It's not uncommon in the entertainment world for agents to sign young talent. It's sinful that these players can't be represented by lawyers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/it-s-not-uncommon-in-the-entertainment-world-for-agents-to-sign-young/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [There's Brandon Jennings. The NBA told him to go to college for a year, and he said, "Screw that. I'll go to Europe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/there-s-brandon-jennings-the-nba-told-him-to-go-to-college-for-a-year/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [After the NBA and ABA merged, players could come out after high school. Still, there were only a few cases prior to Kevin Garnett…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/after-the-nba-and-aba-merged-players-could-come-out-after-high-school/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [I was starting out in the business, there was only one path to playing professionally - graduate, or go four years. With the creation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/i-was-starting-out-in-the-business-there-was-only-one-path-to-playing/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [Very unfairly, there's a negative image of the kid, which really stems from the greed and selfishness of the NBA and NCAA. They're forcing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/very-unfairly-there-s-a-negative-image-of-the-kid-which-really-stems/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [Paternalistic is a very good word. They think they have to look out for these guys? Don't worry about it. Why? Because of history.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/paternalistic-is-a-very-good-word-they-think-they-have-to-look-out/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [ Kobe \[Bryant\] had the biggest contract for a high school kid. He was the first one to get more than a million a year. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/kobe-bryant-had-the-biggest-contract-for-a-high-school-kid-he-was-the/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [What would be wrong with letting a kid go pro, and if it doesn't work out he can come back to college? What's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/what-would-be-wrong-with-letting-a-kid-go-pro-and-if-it-doesn-t-work/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [NBA has a selfish rationale. It saves the owners money by delaying the time a player gets to a second, more lucrative contract. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/nba-has-a-selfish-rationale-it-saves-the-owners-money-by-delaying-the/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [What would have happened if Derrick Rose had torn his knee in college, or Greg Oden? It would have cost them millions of dollars.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/what-would-have-happened-if-derrick-rose-had-torn-his-knee-in-college/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [The NCAA wants to control the images; they say they own your image forever. If you look through this façade, it's crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/the-ncaa-wants-to-control-the-images-they-say-they-own-your-image/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [One-and-done is the most damaging thing in college basketball. It brings money into the college game, because it kickstarts the bidding war. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/one-and-done-is-the-most-damaging-thing-in-college-basketball-it/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

> [What happens when you get hurt? Take that kid at Kentucky, Nerlens Noel, who could have turned pro after high school.Who knows what's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/what-happens-when-you-get-hurt-take-that-kid-at-kentucky-nerlens-noel/)

[Sonny Vaccaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

[Explore all 18 Sonny Vaccaro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/)

## More Arms quotes

> [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/)

Brian Reade

> [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/)

[Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/)

> [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/)

[Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/)

> [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/)

[Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/)

> [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/)

[Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/)

> [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/)

[Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/)

> [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/)

[Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/)

Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "LeBron james came, and he gets $10 million a year. There was no stigma or blemish, like you have with one-and-done. Now people say, \"He's not a student, he's an athlete.\" Well, of course he's not a student! He's here for one year and he told you he's here for one year, and the school took him with open arms.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sonny Vaccaro"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/lebron-james-came-and-he-gets-10-million-a-year-there-was-no-stigma/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Arms"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/lebron-james-came-and-he-gets-10-million-a-year-there-was-no-stigma/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/sonny-vaccaro-29117_arms_lebron-james-came-and-he-gets-10-million_540904.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/sonny-vaccaro-29117_arms_lebron-james-came-and-he-gets-10-million_540904.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be2/sonny-vaccaro-29117_arms_lebron-james-came-and-he-gets-10-million_540904.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“LeBron james came, and he gets $10 million a year. There was no stigma or blemish, like you have with…” — Sonny Vaccaro",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Sonny Vaccaro",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-vaccaro/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "LeBron james came, and he gets...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/lebron-james-came-and-he-gets-10-million-a-year-there-was-no-stigma/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-vaccaro/lebron-james-came-and-he-gets-10-million-a-year-there-was-no-stigma/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
