LibraryNowPlayMechanicsMCP

Kinds

Campaign384Product105Food & drink30App & software57Film61Series75Music61Game124Book46Creator moment60Meme & format111Trend & aesthetic41Activity61Moment112
PricingPrivacyTermsRefundsPress
Library/Moment/LeBron James: The Decision
Grade B18 sourcesHIS-01311

LeBron James: The Decision

Moment · 2010 · Notable

58Editable slideCertificate

LeBron James's ESPN announcement peaked at 13.1 million US television viewers.

Clip · Secret Base on YouTube
Clip · ESPN on YouTube
ESPN Special The Decision title card
Wikipedia (non-free, fair use)
LeBron James during The Decision on ESPN
ESPN
Sports Illustrated's I'm Coming Home essay, 2014
LeBron James, as told to Lee Jenkins / Sports Illustrated
LeBron James and Jim Gray shake hands on The Decision set
Deadspin

Spread Score

How it works
Reach53Contagion20Breadth70Velocity100LongevityNo data yet58

Numbers

US peak quarter-hour, seed broadcast; overlaps average
13.1M
As of Jul 8, 2010 · TV · Nielsen
Seed to observed peak
same day
Jul 8 ’10 to Jul 8 ’10
Platforms
5
Started on TV
Origin
Stunt
Sports

Mechanics

  • ControversyPrimary
  • Real-world spectacle
  • Platform jump
  • Press loop
  • Catchphrase

How it spread

Trace the origin

James announced his Miami move on ESPN. Jersey burning, Twitter reactions and a Comic Sans letter became follow-up stories. Sponsors funded Boys & Girls Club projects. The announcement later became a catchphrase, a video retrospective and a Hennessy ad.

Observed peak within the documented measurement window; not an all-time maximum.

Dec ’09Aug ’10Nov ’11Jun ’13Jun ’14Dec ’15Sep ’17Sep ’19Jan ’22May ’24Jan ’26TVXOpen webPressYouTube
TVXOpen webPressYouTube

13 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

Timeline (16)

  1. July 2010

    ESPN / LRMR Marketing precursor · Jul 7 ’10

    ESPN announced the special, its sponsors and a plan to donate proceeds to Boys & Girls Clubs.[1]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. LeBron James / Jim Gray seed · Jul 8 ’10

    James announced on ESPN that he would take his talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.[2][3][4]

  3. US television viewers observed peak · Jul 8 ’10

    Nielsen put the broadcast peak at 13.1 million viewers in its 9:15-9:30 p.m. ET quarter-hour.[5]

  1. backlash · Jul 8 ’10

  2. platform jump · Jul 8 ’10

Join free to see the other 13 events and the full chart. Free, on every case.

or continue with Google

Why it worked

Do this

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

Pro opens the playbook, all 12 sourced numbers and 18 sources. Start with a free account.

Join freeGo Pro
Origin
Stunt
Sector
Sports
Region
US
US peak quarter-hour, seed broadcast; overlaps average
13.1M
As of Jul 8, 2010 · TV · Nielsen
Evidence
Grade B

Spread the same way

Meme & format · X · 202560

Chicken Jockey

A trailer-line remix became a cinema ritual; one reaction TikTok passed 4.3 million views.

1 / 8

  • Chicken Jockey
  • Banksy's Self-Shredding Painting
  • Kermencement
  • Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
  • Dakota Johnson’s Ellen Interview
  • Gojira's Olympics opening ceremony performance
  • Sam Smith's HARRI inflatable suit
  • #ALLMYMOVIES

New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.