Signing iconic athletes for their brand is an art that Nike is brilliant at. However, they might not be as good as keeping those stars with them as one would think. Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers legend that many have grown up idolizing, will no longer be pairing up with Nike. While this has come as a shock to fans, some NBA players haven’t been able to digest the news either, and that includes Anthony Davis.

Anthony Davis processing the news

Kobe bagged his first shoe deal when he entered the league with Adidas. It was a six-year $48 million contract that he pulled out of in 2002 and was even fined $8 million as an exit free.

Soon after, he stumbled upon a four-year deal worth $40 million with Nike. And after their first show became a success, came a plethora of other successful launches.

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During the last extension of the deal, Kobe and Nike had signed a five-year contract post-retirement, which came to an unfortunate end on April 13, 2021. And with no lifetime contract in the books, Kobe’s estate decided to part ways with them. From Talen Horton-Tucker wanting to get his hands on a pair of Kobes now, to Anthony Davis‘ reaction, it seems like the news hit harder than expected.

As per Mark Medina, Davis stated, “It definitely hurts. It definitely makes me think about which Kobes I want to wear and which ones I want to keep as my personal possessions.”

What is next for Kobe Bryant estate?

After Kobe passed away in the horrible helicopter accident, there were reports of him wanting to part ways with Nike all along. His focus was to create his own brand and news of that being in the works is already making rounds.

There have been legal filings for several trademarks. That will cover gym wear, loungewear, clothing, and footwear. And there is no doubt that it will be a success. How can a brand linked to the legend himself not be a huge success?

With Davis’ return to the court nearing, it is going to be interesting to see what his choices are when it comes to wearing Kobes. After missing games since February 14, Davis is expected to make his return in the Lakers‘ matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.

Read also-  ‘Mind Boggling’: Olympic Gold Medalist Reacts to Kobe Bryant and Nike Parting Ways