Due to recent controversy relating to Kyrie Irving and antisemitic remarks, Nike and Kyrie Irving parted ways. Here are the details of the eight-year deal coming to an end.
Antisemitic Remarks
Back in November, Kyrie Irving was suspended for five games due to antisemitic remarks. After he voiced support for a film with antisemitic messages, the Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie’s team, gave him several chances to apologize. Instead of apologizing, Kyrie stated: “I cannot be antisemitic if I know where I come from.” Eventually, these actions led to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver delivering a public statement expressing his disappointment.
According to Shams Charania via Twitter, Kyrie had to meet six requirements to return to the league. Irving and the Nets pledged $500,000 to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), but after Irving butchered a press conference, the ADL stated that they won’t be accepting the donation.
Nike Deal
In a statement to CBS News on December 5, 2022, Nike stated that “Kyrie Irving is no longer a Nike athlete.” Irving’s agent claims that the parting was mutual. After the deal ended, Nike offered extremely low prices for remaining Kyrie Irving shoes, many costing a fraction of their retail price.
Kyrie Irving has been with Nike for eight years, and the deal was set to end in October of 2023. His signature shoe has proven to be one of Nike’s most popular, with eight different models excluding his Infinity line the Kyrie Low line.
Irving Wears Blank Shoes
Irving eventually returned to the league. In a December 7 122-116 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, Irving wore a pair of Kyrie 3’s, but the Nike Swoosh logo was taped over. A message was written on the shoe: “I AM FREE Thank you God … I AM.” The other side of the shoe said “logo here.”
In the victory over the Hornets, Kyrie put up 33 points, five rebounds and nine assists on 14-for-24 shooting. He averages 24.9 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, and 4.6 assists per game this season so far.
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Featured image courtesy of Getty Images
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