How do shoe deals work NBA?
Merchandise Deals
These players—think bench players and reserves—aren't paid to wear the shoes, but they receive free merchandise throughout the year — typically $25,000 or higher depending on the player (Source).
As mentioned earlier, a signature deal with the Swoosh is reserved for the elite few. As we approach the beginning of the 2022-23 NBA season, only five active players will have a signature shoe with Nike, with LeBron James leading the way with the 20th iteration of his LeBron line releasing this fall.
The NBA season is 82 games long, meaning that if a team fails to make the playoffs, a player switches shoes every 1.64 games. Now let's take a look at the last pre-COVID season the Nuggets played.
They all earn more than $10 million per year, with a 5% royalty (or even higher in foreign countries) on the sale of each shoe or branded apparel item. These players can also score different bonuses for on-court performance or off-court initiatives.
But what about the athletes? Of course they receive free shoes, apparel, and equipment. According to a New York Times story, basketball players get so much free merchandise that they give a lot of it away to friends and family.
A kit manager for the Denver Nuggets said that each player goes through about 50 pairs during the regular season. The reason for changing so rapidly varies from person to person. For some, it's strictly an issue of comfort.
#1 – Michael Jordan: $90-100 million/year, Jordan Brand – On the one hand, it's kind of ridiculous that a player who's been out of the league for 15 years is far and away the highest-paid athlete in the world when it comes to sneaker endorsem*nts, but the Air Jordan line of basketball shoes is the whole reason players ...
#1 LeBron James
LeBron James, to many, is the NBA's greatest player. It is a no-brainer that he will be the athlete with the biggest shoe deal in the NBA. Of all active NBA players, LeBron James sells the most shoes.
Nike's first professional athlete endorser was Romanian tennis player Ilie Năstase. The first track endorser was distance runner Steve Prefontaine. Prefontaine was the prized pupil of the company's co-founder, Bill Bowerman, while he coached at the University of Oregon.
Nike still has a framed letter from the NBA explaining that the association's "rules and procedures" prohibited Jordan's shoes. Though the letter didn't state it explicitly, the shoes violated the "51% rule," which demanded that players' footwear be mostly white, and in keeping with their team's jerseys.
Can NBA players wear whatever shoes they want?
Every player had restrictions on what color shoes they could wear during games. Sneakers could be majority black or white, with a little team color. In the 2018-19 season, the NBA removed all shoe color restrictions. For the first time in league history, players could wear any color shoes they wanted on the court.
- Use your discounts. ...
- Become a product tester. ...
- Give your email. ...
- Sign up for credit cards. ...
- Enter giveaways. ...
- Join a store's “friends and family” circle. ...
- Shop inventory clearance sales. ...
- Attend activations.
NBA superstar LeBron James signed a $90 million deal with Nike before ever playing an NBA game.
The numbers for his current contract are unknown, but he reportedly makes more than $30 million a year from it, and the total deal is supposedly worth more than $1 billion, per the Akron Beacon Journal.
Cristiano Ronaldo – A terrific footballer and adored celebrity, Cristiano Ronaldo has signed multi-million dollar deals with several global brands. However, the deal with Nike tops the list with valuation of $1 billion. This is a $1 billion lifetime deal offered to Cristiano Ronaldo by Nike.
“Unless you're Team Jordan, you can't wear my shoes”: Michael Jordan only allows Jordan Brand players to wear his sneakers in NBA games. Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan refused to let any NBA player wear his Jordan brand shoes. Mike wanted his Team Jordan to stay exclusive.
Each player gets free clothes and sneakers from the brands that sponsor the teams, as The New York Times explains. The only catch: The NCAA forbids them from selling the apparel, but they can give it away to whomever they want.
Professional basketball players stay in four- or five-star hotels, and they are handed a pile of cash for their meals. In 2019, players received $133 for daily meal per diems. In addition to receiving money for meals, they have access to snacks and food in the locker room.
They need a combination of good dribbling and ball-handling skills. Because these players need to be light on their feet, they too will benefit from wearing low-tops. High-tops will slow them down and affect their dribbling skills.
The shoes will be released in three color options: “Phantom (green)” “Cobalt Bliss (yellow)” and “Game Royal (black).” Last season, just 24 players in the entire league had a signature shoe deal, which means Morant is joining elite company in the NBA shoe game.
How do I get a Nike sneaker deal?
The best way to get noticed by Nike is by being a superb athlete. You do not necessarily have to be the best basketball or football player to land a contract with Nike. Rather, swimmers, runners and any other athlete who represents a sport well can earn a contract. Be an upstanding citizen and a good teammate.
But when it comes to sneakers, nobody comes close. Wholesale revenue at Nike's Jordan Brand subsidiary hit $3.14 billion in the fiscal year ending May 2019, up 10% from 2018. MJ's annual take is an estimated $130 million, four times more than that of James, the No. 2 earner, with $32 million.
Starbury, Inc. is an American brand of sneakers and clothing endorsed by former NBA player and current CBA coach Stephon Marbury, and was marketed by Steve & Barry's. The line was launched in September 2006 as a pair of $14.98 basketball shoes to compete with higher priced products endorsed by celebrity athletes.
"Laugh all you want, the Shaq brand has sold over 120 million pairs of affordable shoes," Shaq captioned a photo on Facebook. The shoes are being sold for as little as 12 dollars and 75 cents, while his Reebok Shaq Attack line sell for closer to 70 dollars.
Meanwhile, Jordan's deal with Nike included a clause for royalties. According to Essentially Sports, Jordan gets 5% from each Air Jordan sale; this is how he has been able to make $150 million per year.
18-Year Old LeBron James Rejected $110 Million From Reebok And $70 Million From Adidas, And Signed A 7-Year, $90 Million Deal With Nike: "I'm A Nike Guy." LeBron James is one of the biggest names on the planet. The King has been dominating the NBA for almost 20 years now and has been a superstar his entire career.
All of the investors in the deal already have existing ties to James. Nike has endorsed him since he turned pro in 2003 and signed him to a lifetime contract at the end of 2015. The brand pays him an estimated $32 million annually.
- Use your discounts. ...
- Become a product tester. ...
- Give your email. ...
- Sign up for credit cards. ...
- Enter giveaways. ...
- Join a store's “friends and family” circle. ...
- Shop inventory clearance sales. ...
- Attend activations.
You can have a bunch of endorsem*nts at a single time as long as they are not competitors of one another in the same field. If decide to wear another brands item, you risk losing your endorsem*nt and will receive a warning.
The best way to get noticed by Nike is by being a superb athlete. You do not necessarily have to be the best basketball or football player to land a contract with Nike. Rather, swimmers, runners and any other athlete who represents a sport well can earn a contract. Be an upstanding citizen and a good teammate.
How many NBA players have shoe endorsem*nts?
It is estimated that there are only 18 NBA players with shoe deals, which is not surprising given how much sportswear companies are dishing out on annual contracts. And while none can match MJ's iconic Nike deal, basketball stars still earn a nice chunk of change from endorsem*nts.
