When the ball is in Nike’s court, expect a game-winning shot. A long tug-of-war battle between the Beaverton brand and Baltimore-based Under Armour finally came to a close when Kevin Durant publicly stated his allegiance to “the swoosh”, but arriving to a decision didn’t come so easy. Under Armour made waves with a massive contract that seemed too good to pass up, but Nike upped its original offer to nearly the same figures as laid out by UA and ultimately retained the superstar. Nike’s big offer accomplishes two things: it keeps KD with the brand, and it ensures its dominance in the basketball category by denying its competitor with such a huge asset. So what’s next for Nike and the KD? Expect new colorways of the KD 7 to be revealed (there’s already an “Easy Money” option coming on September 10th), larger distribution of the shoes and KD-branded apparel/accessories, and an eventual change in regime in the Nike Basketball hierarchy. Your thoughts on KD staying with Nike? Chime in below.
Excited and humbled to sign back with the swoosh!
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) September 1, 2014