‘Til death do they part.
NBA star Kevin Durant and Nike have just signed a lifetime partnership. Durant is only the third NBA player to sign such a deal, joining Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
Kevin Durant And Nike Will Be Partners For The Long Haul
The Phoenix Suns star’s relationship with Nike dates back to 2007. He’s released 15 different sets of shoes, with a 16th set to be released in August.
The lifetime partnership deal will include footwear and apparel, supporting Durant’s involvement in grassroots basketball, and collaborating on court refurbishments through the Durant Family Foundation and Durant’s Elite Youth Basketball League program, Team Durant.
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“When I first signed with Nike, I couldn’t have dreamed of how far we’d go in this partnership,” Durant, 34, said in a statement posted on Boardroom, a media/news company he co-founded with Rich Kleiman.
“We’ve done amazing work creatively and philanthropically. We’ve traveled the world together and built a business that will last forever. I’m excited for the future and honored to be in rare company with this deal.”
John Slusher, Nike Executive Vice President of Global Sports Marketing, added, “As one of the best basketball players in the world, Kevin Durant has been an important part of the Nike family for the past 16 years. We look forward to continuing to serve the next generation of athletes together.”
In a USA Today op-ed about the recently released movie “Air,” Durant’s mom, Wanda Durant, wrote about her son’s partnership with Nike.
“Kevin is an NBA championship-winning superstar and one of the few professional athletes to have the opportunity to sign a signature shoe deal with Nike. Like Michael, LeBron James, and the late Kobe Bryant, Nike believed in Kevin’s potential before he played in his first NBA game,” Wanda wrote. “That was an emotional time for me to watch him be drafted into the NBA and then sign a deal with a behemoth like Nike.”
Earlier this month, Wanda told Boardroom, “The fact that players would choose his shoes to wear in the game? It’s a joy to see.”
And it’s not only “a joy to see” for Wanda but also “a dream come true” for Durant, who said, “It’s something that I’ve been working towards since I was a kid and having a partnership with Nike. Being in that company is a blessing.”
KD 16 Will Be Released Later This Year
The NBA star’s 16th signature shoe, “KD 16,” will be released in August. For anyone watching the playoffs, they may look familiar since Durant has already worn them during the postseason.
Durant shared a photo of the new shoes on his Instagram page about two weeks ago. More colorways will be added soon.
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LeBron James wrote, “TOUGH!!!” in the comment section. The rest of the comment section was filled with flame emojis and excitement for the new shoes.
Earlier this year, the Nike KD 3 “All-Star” returned to retail for the first time, giving much hope that more archival Nike KDs will be re-release in the future.
“That’s part of the business I always wanted to build – the retro business because it lasts forever,” Durant said on an episode of “The ETCs.”
