With the extension of Kobe Bryant’s five-year post-retirement sponsorship deal with Nike, which expires in April, Vanessa Bryant and Propiedades Kobe Bryant chose not to renew the partnership, the player’s widow confirmed in a statement sent to ESPN Monday evening. sent.
“Kobe’s contract with Nike expired on April 13, 2021. Kobe and Nike have created, worn and adored some of the most beautiful basketball shoes in history by fans and athletes of all sports in the world,” Vanessa told ESPN. “It seems most appropriate that more NBA players use my husband’s product than any other tennis.”
Bryant and his real estate company were frustrated by the fact that Nike was limiting the availability of Kobe’s product during his retirement and after his death in January 2020 in a helicopter accident, according to a source. According to sources, there was also frustration with the unavailability of Kobe shoes in children’s sizes.
Nike had submitted a contract renewal offer that was inconsistent with expectations of a similar “for life” structure with the Nike Inc. contracts signed by Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
“I always hope that Kobe fans can buy and use their products,” said Vanessa. “I will keep fighting for it. Kobe products sold in seconds. That says it all.
“I was hoping to enter into a lifelong partnership with Nike that reflects my husband’s legacy. We will always do whatever it takes to honor Kobe and Gigi’s legacies. That will never change, ”he added.
It is believed that all future sales of Kobe Bryant branded shoes and apparel manufactured by Nike will be discontinued. Kobe Bryant’s assets could enter into negotiations with outside brands to form a new association.
Vanessa Bryant also confirmed to ESPN that Kobe Bryant Properties also owns the rights to the “Mamba” logo and signature. The “Sheath” logo that often appears on the tongue of Kobe’s shoes is owned by both parties, according to the source.
After scoring 60 points in his last NBA game on April 13, 2016, a date referred to by Nike as “ Mamba Day ” in an extravagant ad campaign, Bryant had a five-year contract extension planned to continue after retirement with the partnership.
Before he died, Bryant had explored the idea of creating his own Mamba brand at the end of the existing deal with Nike, including a meeting in December 2019 with a creativity firm that could potentially help design and run a future series Products.
After signing a contract with Nike in 2003, Bryant created an impact partnership with the brand that lasted until the end of his career. He highlighted the sneaker by including the Zoom Huarache 2K4 and 2K5, the revolutionary Hyperdunk at the 2008 Olympics, and 11 models under the Nike Kobe series.
With the launch of the Kobe IV during Bryant’s resurgent season in the 2008-09 Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, tennis design ushered in a new era of low tops in the NBA. Once worn by a handful of guards from all 30 teams, the low tops were later worn by players from all positions on all teams. About half of the league is currently wearing tops.
Once he retired from the NBA, a line of retro shoes and new designs were sold over the next five years. Bryant used the term “Protro” to indicate that he wanted to enhance his previous designs with modern construction and technology, a professionally updated retro edition of his previous shoes.
Kobe 1, 4, 5 and 6 have been relaunched through Protro letes in recent years. During the reboot of the NBA bubble in the 2019-2020 season, 102 players wore a Kobe-branded shoe, the highest total for a player’s tennis.