DeMar DeRozan Signs Deal With Nike Allegedly To Be Face Of Kobe Bryant’s Sneaker Line, Vanessa Bryant Balks at the News
DeMar DeRozan Signs Deal With Nike Allegedly To Be Face Of Kobe Bryant’s Sneaker Line, Vanessa Bryant Balks at the News
Earlier this week, based on a report by The Atlantic’s Shams Charania, Nike signed a new deal with the Chicago Bull’s DeMar DeRozan, reportedly with the intention of making him the face of future Kobe Bryant sneakers.
Fresh off making All-NBA second team, Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan is signing a new four-year deal with Nike that keeps him as the featured face of Kobe Bryant’s iconic line, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2022
After news got out, according to the New York Post, Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant denies that the Chicago Bull player will be the face of Kobe’s forthcoming line. “False,” she stated in response to Charania’s Tweet. “He is not the face of the Kobe line. No one is.”
The since-deleted Instagram post was captured by Nice Kicks Twitter account.
Vanessa Bryant responds to @ShamsCharania’s report of DeMar Derozan being face of Kobe’s Nike signature line https://t.co/wWfIrNN8Pw pic.twitter.com/qC6pkBW6O5
— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) August 1, 2022
Side Action also posted screenshots of Bryant allegedly responding to the “miscommunication” by writing, “LOVE that he’s a Kobe supporter but the caption is false. It’s misinformation. Only Kobe is the face of his line. If that changes in the future, then I’m sure Nike and I will release a statement announcing it.”
Earlier this year, Bryant and Nike, after they couldn’t reach an agreement last year on a contract extension to continue the Kobe Bryant line, the two parties renewed their partnership.
A statement was released to the press from Bryant announcing the renewed partnership.
“I am happy to announce that we will continue my husband’s legacy with Nike and look forward to expanding his and Gigi‘s global impact by sharing the Mamba Mentality with youth athletes for generations to come,” Bryant said at the time.
Bryant originally signed with adidas for his first sneaker contract before signing with Nike in 2003. He had signed a five-year extension in April 2016, which ended last year when his estate and the sneaker giant did not come to an agreement.
The 41-year-old basketball legend died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California., along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven other people on Jan. 26, 2020.
DeMar DeRozan Signs Deal With Nike Allegedly To Be Face Of Kobe Bryant’s Sneaker Line, Vanessa Bryant Balks at the News
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