After 13 years of partnership with Under Armour, Stephen Curry is declaring himself a “sneaker free agent.” Now that this long-standing collaboration has come to an end, the Golden State Warriors star is thinking about something bigger, perhaps a shoe brand that offers greater projection for his image.
During a game against the Spurs, the Golden State point guard came out to warm up wearing Nike Kobe 6s. He showed off this new footwear just one day after his agreement with Under Armour ended.
In the post-game press conference, reporters asked whether Nike would be the next “home” for his sneakers. Curry limited himself to expressing gratitude toward his former brand.
I’m a free agent, I’m here with new beginnings. I was fortunate to live an incredible experience, to take on something that meant so much to me over the last 13 years.
He emphasized that with Under Armour, something was built from scratch in the basketball and NBA world. It was a successful project for both sides, a partnership that lasted more than a decade.
I’m very proud of myself, my team, and everyone who touched that business for so long. We should all be proud of what we achieved by taking a basketball brand, or a brand category, that wasn’t particularly relevant before, to where we did. But I’m excited about the future.
Regarding the end of the agreement with Under Armour, the press asked why they decided to end the partnership. Stephen explained that everything has a cycle and that the footwear industry is undergoing changes that also force him to evolve.
Everything was in the best interest of both parties… I gave my best to create something sustainable.
Curry is thinking about something bigger
He wore the Nike Kobe VI “Mambacita” before scoring 49 points against San Antonio, his second consecutive 40-plus point game against the Spurs. With that performance, he joined Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the only players aged 37 or older to record back-to-back games with 40 or more points.
Many have wondered whether Nike will be Curry’s next home. Regarding that possibility, the Golden State player neither confirmed nor denied it. He simply said he’s thinking about “the bigger picture and what comes next.”
For now, the owner of the Curry Brand will have time to analyze and explore new manufacturing partnerships to choose the best option. He also clarified that he will maintain the social-impact initiatives tied to his brand.
Read the full article here
