Vanessa Bryant, widow of Kobe Bryant, and the company that controls the property and assets of the former Lakers player, have decided to end their relationship with Nike when it comes to making the most popular NBA sneakers.
"Nike's contract with Kobe expired on April 13, 2021. Kobe and Nike have made some of the most beautiful basketball shoes of all time, which have been worn and loved by fans and athletes of all sports around the world. The brand is the most used by NBA players," Vanessa Bryant explained in a statement.
For its part, Nike, whose role was key in the athlete's rise as an international icon, said that "Kobe Bryant was an important part of the deep connection" of the company with its consumers.
"He demanded us and made everyone around him better. Although our contractual relationship has ended, he remains a deeply loved member of the Nike family," said the company, which stood by the athlete even when he was accused of sexual assault. .
With this decision, all production related to Kobe Bryant by Nike is expected to stop soon.
From the American specialized press it is stated that Nike presented a renewal offer that was not what was expected in economic and duration terms, since Bryant wanted a "lifetime" contractual relationship, similar to the one signed by the company with Michael Jordan or Lebron James.
It may interest you"My hope will always be to allow Kobe fans to own and wear his products," said Vanessa Bryant. "I'll keep fighting for it. Kobe's products sell out in seconds. That says it all," added the widow of the five-time NBA ring winner.
According to sources consulted by ESPN, Bryant and the company dedicated to looking after the interests of the late NBA star were "frustrated" by the limited availability of Bryant's products -especially for young children- since the player's withdrawal and, especially, after his death in January 2020 in a helicopter accident.
In that sense, The New York Times explains that Kobe's shoes worn by NBA players are often limited editions that the average consumer cannot afford to buy, a strategy that Vanessa Bryant did not agree with.
Meanwhile, Bryant's circle, which owns the rights to the famous "Mamba" logo (the player's nickname), could already be negotiating with other brands to form a new association, or even He could opt for creating his own firm, just as the player himself had been devising before his death, according to the CNBC portal.
According to intellectual property attorney Josh Gerben, more than 13 trademark proposals have been formalized in the name of Kobe Bryant since May 2020.
"The proposals would suggest that Vanessa (Bryant) is building a portfolio of intellectual property for a new brand launch," Gerben told CNBC.
Some of the most recent proposals include trademark applications under the terms "Play Gigi's Way", "Mamba and Mambacita", "Baby Mambas" and "Mamba League". Gianna, or "Gigi," was the name of Bryant's daughter who died alongside her father in the tragic helicopter crash. Her nickname was Mambacita.
The proposals show that the trademarks are intended to be used for all kinds of products, such as sportswear, streetwear or footwear. Gerben said these proposals were filed as "intended to use," which generally means an underlying business could be being planned.
The partnership between Nike and Bryant began in 2003 and has resulted in some of the most popular shoes on the market, including the Zoom Huarache 2K4 and 2K5, as well as the celebrated Hyperdunk and 11 models in the Nike Kobe series. The last renewal of the contract occurred after his withdrawal in 2016, for five more years.
The validity of Kobe's products in the NBA is unappealable.
According to the Baller Shoes DB website, during the last NBA season, a total of 103 players, around 20% of the League, wore Kobe Bryant shoe models. More than LeBron James. More, even, than Michael Jordan.
Now, Vanessa Bryant wants that love for her husband's products on the courts to find the same echo on the streets.
