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After Bronny James’ New Deal and LeBron James’ Iconic “Year 20” Post with Nike, Adidas Set on Last-Gasp Attempt for Retro Sneakers

Published 10/11/2022, 1:00 PM EDT

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LeBron James has been the most influential player in the NBA for around two decades. The Los Angeles Lakers forward have set new precedents in the NBA in terms of salary contracts and brand endorsements. While Michael Jordan brought endorsement deals to the league, LeBron James has taken it to the next level of business and investments. The four-time NBA is celebrating his 20 years with Nike in the NBA. He recently posted a new Nike advert featuring the latest iteration of his shoe line, LeBron20s on Instagram.

Moreover, LeBron’s son Bronny James became an official endorser for Nike on Monday. The 18-year-old signed a NIL deal with Nike ahead of his final high school season at Sierra Canyon School in LA.

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Amidst all the branding action from Nike, Adidas has made a move to bring back some retro sneakers that James used to wear during high school.

Adidas brings back Retro shoes as LeBron James remains faithful to Nike

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While Adidas tried hard to get LeBron James in 2003, Nike succeeded in signing the 19-time All-Star. James became the first athlete to sign a shoe deal even before playing an NBA game. He has been with Nike since and is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the partnership with the Launch of Nike 20s. LeBron’s son also joined the Nike family recently, making the bond between the sneaker manufacturer and the four-time Finals MVP stronger.

 

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Thus, Adidas re-released three pairs of retro sneakers in February as a last-gasp attempt to stay in the sneaker market. Adidas used to be James’ preference before he signed with Nike. The sports apparel brand brought back the T-Mac 1, T-Mac 2, and the Pro Model 2G retro shoes and is offering alluring discounts on them to attract the attention of their customers.

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Watch This Story: LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Other Legends Who Shaved Their Heads in the NBA

LeBron James used to wear Kobe Bryants’s Kobes and Tracy McGrady’s T-Mac sneaker line during high school. However, the 37-year-old has preferred Nike for almost 20 years since his NBA debut. His recent post and Bronny’s new endorsement contract depicts the trust that James has in Nike. The partnership is expected to continue even when James hangs his boots in the NBA.

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Written by:

Rohit Kumawat

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Rohit Kumawat is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Currently pursuing an MBA in Media and Business Management, Rohit holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. He has been working as a Sports and Entertainment writer for over a year.
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