LeBron James opens up about Mercedes Maybach partnership as custom $550,000 car auction aims to support…

Le Bron James, the former Los Angeles Lakers’ icon, has recorded an impressive performance as he led the Philadelphia 76ers to win against the New York Knicks. Amid the new season, the four time NBA champion has decided to partner with Mercedes Maybach to give back to his community in Akron through his foundation, the Le Bron James Family Foundation.

Le Bron James reflects on partnering with Mercedes Maybach for the communities he has built in Akron through his foundation A few weeks ago, in an interview with Vanity Fair, the 41 year old NBA icon Le Bron James opened up about partnering with Mercedes Maybach as she said, “I’m just trying to change the landscape of my community for the better…And for the Mercedes-Maybach team to want to partner with me and to help me continue to make strides on impacting my community means everything to me.”The four time NBA champion added, “Me and my friends used to play this game, bingo,” he tells Vanity Fair. If a desirable car went by, whoever was first to say “bingo” “owned” that vehicle.

“I was always inspired to have great cars and drive great cars,” James says. “That’s just the little-inner-city-kid aspiration.”All about Le Bron James’ collaboration with Mercedes Maybach for Akron For the unversed, the Le Bron James Family Foundation partnered with Mercedes Maybach a few months ago to create 2 custom made new cars.

In a social media post, Mercedes Maybach made a post that read as, “It began with @kingjames’s personal vision. Now, that vision returns with a greater purpose.”The post added, “Crafted through the MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure programme, the near-identical twin to Le Bron's personal Mercedes-Maybach S-Class will be auctioned in support of the @ljfamfoundation.

Because the greatest legacy is helping someone else build theirs.”A custom Mercedes-Maybach S 680, co-designed by NBA superstar Le Bron James, is heading to auction for charity. Through a collaboration with Mercedes-Benz's exclusive MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure program, two nearly identical models of the ultra luxury sedan are being built.

While the four time NBA champion Le Bron James is keeping one for his personal garage, the second "twin" is being sold to the public. The vehicle will be sold by Gooding Christie's during the Rétromobile New York event at the Javits Center with the auction date being set for 20–21 November 2026.

Experts estimate the car will pull in between $425,000 and $550,000 (compared to a standard S 680 starting price of around $247,250). Fans can view the car at Mercedes-Benz Manhattan from 9–16 November, or at the Javits Center starting 19 November.100% of the auction proceeds will benefit the Le Bron James Family Foundation.

Specifically, the money will fund the foundation's I PROMISE program. Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.

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Key quotes

• “I’m just trying to change the landscape of my community for the better…And for the Mercedes-Maybach team to want to partner with me and to help me continue to make strides on impacting my community means everything to me.”

• “Me and my friends used to play this game, bingo,”

• “I was always inspired to have great cars and drive great cars,”

• “That’s just the little-inner-city-kid aspiration.”

• “It began with @kingjames’s personal vision. Now, that vision returns with a greater purpose.”

• “Crafted through the MANUFAKTUR Made to Measure programme, the near-identical twin to Le Bron's personal Mercedes-Maybach S-Class will be auctioned in support of the @ljfamfoundation. Because the greatest legacy is helping someone else build theirs.”