Nike is world-renowned for “winning” and being one of the leaders in sports apparel. Still, they managed to mess up big time. Was their judgment about the player wrong?
Nike Usually Does a Great Job
When it comes to Nike, everyone knows the sports brand. Nike has signed top athletes as stewards for the company. Many famous athletes with Nike include Tiger Woods, Christiano Ronaldo, and LeBron James.
Not Always the Brightest Ideas
Perhaps Nike didn’t intentionally lose a major rising star, but their actions spoke volumes. However, there was more than one instance where the company “undervalued” the player.
What Happened?
As Stephen Curry’s contract with Nike ended, it’s reported that he received multiple calls for potential deal offers.
Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry comes from a basketball family, and his dad, Dell Curry, is a former professional basketball player. Stephen’s younger brother Seth Curry is also playing on a professional level. Stephen represents the Golden State Warriors and has had a previous four-year contract with Nike, a deal that ended in 2013.
Curry Sported Nike in Collage, Too
According to GameDay News, Curry sported Nike throughout his college career. Some fans thought Curry would get signed with Nike, considering there was already some history with the previous four-year contract.
Another Nike Pitch
Nike was one of the companies, amongst many, that called Curry up for a signup deal. Even though the sporting brand had previously worked with the rising star basketball player, they preferred to do another pitch.
Not All Athletes Are Equal
Reports suggest that Nike’s “tier system” ranks athletes from top to bottom. However, higher-ranking players, including LeBron James and others, would receive “special treatment.” Suffice it to say Curry wasn’t ranked at the top just yet.
Showing Promise
Curry’s electrifying performances on the court in what some call his “breakout year” saw him get a record for 3-pointers and 52 points when he played at Maddison Square Garden.
Bad Impression of the Nike Brand
However, for Dell Curry, it became more apparent that Nike didn’t consider his son, Stephen, a “top-tier athlete,” reports said. Many things reflected the brand’s true feelings toward the champ.
At the Nike Sign-up Meeting
Stephen and his former basketball legend dad, stood in at the presentation for a potential Nike deal. The presentation with the Curry’s “went from bad to worse,” according to GameDay News.
Wrong Name Pronunciation
At the pitch, the spokesperson for Nike mispronounced the athlete’s name. Reports say the representative making the pitch incorrectly pronounced the athlete’s name as Steph ‘on’ and not Steph ‘en.’ This clearly indicated that Stephen wasn’t important enough for the company to remember his name pronunciation.
Maybe Just a Formality?
If the company thought they’d be representing an athlete, surely they would do more to make the potential deal work without unnecessary slip-ups. In Curry’s case, could they have already come to a decision?
Undervalued and Overtaken by Less-Known Athletes
Another blow to Stephen was when athletes who were yet to showcase their worth and skills were chosen over him for Nike’s “youth developments” program.
No Certainty Why Nike Chose Other’s Over Curry
According to GameDay News, the reasons why Nike would neglect a rising star like Stephen are uncertain. It’s reported that perhaps the company preferred the two players chosen for the youth camp over Curry. Other speculations suggested that the two players brought “new swag,” the report said.
A Betrayal?
Despite the previous contract and relationship with Nike, and despite Stephen showing promise, it didnt make a difference. Wrong Presentation
To make matters worse for Curry, on the day of his presentation with Nike, the speaker once again messed up and still had Kevin Durant’s name on the slides. It’s as if the Nike team didn’t even bother to check and make sure everything was in order before their presentation with Curry.
What Was on Offer?
Nike is said to have offered Curry a $2.5 million deal to sign with them. However, Curry received a better offer elsewhere, and Nike wasn’t prepared to match the offer.
Under Armour
The Brand Under Armour offered Curry a $4 million deal, and with that, some considered them taking “a risk” on signing the athlete. People thought the company was risking too much because Curry had sustained injuries requiring a lengthy healing time and thus missed many games while recovering.
Adored By Fans and Sports Organisations
According to GameDay News, Curry was much-loved by everyone and became a favorite of the NBA. For Under Armour and Curry, the deal opened more doors.
The Better Pick
The Curry Brand by Stephen Curry and Under Armour allowed the athlete to soar even more. Nike is said to have “dropped the ball” and lost the deal of a lifetime for not taking Stephen Curry seriously.
Helping Young Tallent Players Get Exposure
Curry has been with Under Armour since 2013, and today, the deal between the two is worth over $214 million. Curry has also established the Underrated Tour that helps “underappreciated highschool basket ball players get more exposure,” according to CNBC.
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