"Deuces Kyrie'- Nike, probably (but also actually)
Imagine growing up playing basketball, thinking one day you may get your own signature shoe, or sponsorship with Nike. Go to Duke play for Coach K, end up getting drafted Numbah 1 overall. Finally get that Nike endorsement and signature sneaker. Work with Nike to create 9 versions of your signature shoe......only to make anti Semitic comments and your shoe be worth this currently. Still a little pricey in my opinion.
In an interview last month with CNBC's "Squawk Box," Nike co-founder Phil Knight made strong comments denouncing Irving's recent actions. "Kyrie stepped over the line. It's kind of that simple," Knight said. "So he made some statements that we just can't abide by, and that's why we ended the relationship. And yeah, I was fine with that."
A 2021 Sportico report indicated that Irving was earning $11 million per year from Nike, which placed him in a tie for the seventh-most lucrative shoe deal among active players. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, James Harden, Zion Williamson and Giannis Antetokounmpo were the only players earning more. It's unclear when or if Irving will sign with another brand. That is WILD. This started last year too when Kyrie was sitting out because he was anti vax that he doesn't care about money. But when you're getting suspended 8 games, losing your Nike endorsement, and everyone thinks you're an asshole, maybe, and I mean maybeeeee its time to take a look in the mirror.
Side note, I feel like Kyrie is a year or two away from going full Ricky Williams and just disappearing into the woods for a few years smoking on that loud pack and getting high as beans and talking to himself about how the earth is flat.
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