In not renewing Kobe’s exclusive contract with Nike, Vanessa Bryant may have made it more possible for his fans to access the late basketball player's products.
Vanessa Bryant and Kobe Bryant’s estate refused to renew the long-term partnership between the late NBA legend and Nike this week, leaving fans confused.
Kobe Bryant, five-time NBA champion, has been a partner of the brand since 2003.
However, his wife Vanessa chose to announce on social media this week that they will no longer be partnering with the brand.
According to Vanessa, the contract between her late husband and Nike expired on April 13, 2021.
Before then, the collaboration between the NBA star and the sportswear brand has been successful, with his products selling out seconds after its release.
Due to the demand, not a lot of Kobe’s fans get to wear the shoes, as those with connections to the brand get first dibs. This is something that Vanessa wanted to change.
“My hope will always be to allow Kobe’s fans to get and wear his products. I will continue to fight for that.”
Since Kobe’s death in a helicopter crash last year, Vanessa expressed her concerns about the exclusivity of Nike’s Kobe line.
She also cited the lack of availability of Kobe’s footwear in kids’ sizes.
It seems she and the Nike brand could not come to an agreement, as the latter wanted to keep the product line’s exclusivity.
Now that they decided not to renew the contract, all releases of Kobe Bryant-branded footwear and apparel by Nike will be stopped.
While Vanessa had indicated an “openness” to partner with other brands, it was also reported that Kobe had the intention of creating his own brand after his deal with Nike expired.
The move by Vanessa Bryant might have upset fans and sportswear enthusiasts, but it was so that more fans could have access to her late husband’s products that she decided not to renew the contract.
(MO)
Tags: #brands, #Nike, #KobeBryant