Kobe Bryant was more than just a basketball icon. His business savvy matched his dedication on the court, especially when it came to his signature shoes. Kobe not only dominated basketball but also transformed the sneaker game, first with Adidas and then with Nike. However, when Kobe rejected Adidas’ $200 million offer in 2002, he unknowingly set the stage for another superstar to rise in the brand’s ranks—Tracy McGrady.

All the Smoke podcast recently shared a clip, where Tracy McGrady revealed how his journey started with Adidas. Reflecting on Kobe’s decision to leave Adidas, McGrady shared just how much it changed his life. “If it wasn’t for Kob leaving Adidas, bruh, I wouldn’t have got my big deal. I would’ve got the leftovers.” This was a massive turning point for T-Mac, who went on to sign a major endorsement deal. He added, “Mannn, my dog, thank you,” expressing his gratitude towards Kobe.

In another interview, T-mac also looked back at a defining moment in his career, which came in a 2000 game against the New York Knicks. That night felt like his official welcome into the Adidas family. Up until that point, Kobe had been the face of the brand, but with his departure two years later, McGrady’s star was set to rise.

With Kobe switching to Nike, Adidas had to move fast, and McGrady became their go-to guy. But fans have some things to say for that.

Fans misunderstood the Kobe Bryant-Adidas situation

While Tracy McGrady credits Kobe Bryant’s switch to Nike as a great move, in an interview with Slam magazine, T-Mac opened up about how grateful he was for the opportunity, especially since it led to a $100 million endorsement deal. “I owe a lot of my career off the court to that moment,” McGrady said.

However, not all fans agree on the narrative. Some believe Adidas actually dropped Kobe. One fan even commented, “Kobe didn’t leave Adidas tho… they dropped him,” sparking a back-and-forth in the comment section. Another added, “But mamba was dropped tho… Right?”

So, what’s the real story? After the Los Angeles Lakers secured their third straight NBA Championship in 2002, Kobe and his agent, Rob Pelinka, flew to Germany to meet with Adidas executives. They were presented with ideas for a new Kobe line, including shoes and apparel. However, Kobe wasn’t feeling it. According to The Wall Street Journal, Kobe paid $8 million to walk away from his Adidas contract.

However, according to a fan, even if Kobe didn’t reject Adidas at that time, it was bound to happen. Why? As per the fan, “That bread was coming regardless! Btw, nobody wore Kobe’s!! But they had on T-Mac’s.”

The situation wasn’t just a business decision, as Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant reveals some tension during that meeting. This detail got fans fired up too. One shot back in the comment section, “wrong!! As Apple pie and mustard… lol do your research.”

Still, fans were quick to show love to McGrady as well. His humble attitude caught attention, with one saying, “I LOVE the authentic NBA players who talk about Kobe Bean Bryant.” Another added, “You just being humble, T-Mac.”

Now, nearly 27 years later, T-mac and Adidas are still going strong. Their partnership has endured, marking one of the longest-running athlete-brand relationships. While for T-Mac, this is a life-changing event, many fans misunderstood the entire situation.