Vanessa Bryant and the Kobe Bryant estate shared that they would not be renewing the late NBA player’s partnership contract with Nike.
Vanessa shared on her Instagram story that Kobe’s contract with Nike expired last week, April 13. While she was “hoping to forge a lifelong partnership with Nike,” she continued to explain that she will not be renewing the contract due to certain circumstances.
ESPN has since reported that Vanessa confirmed the news with them regarding the end of the partnership. A source also shared, that Vanessa and the estate had grown frustrated with the company, as they were limiting the availability of Kobe’s products. The lack of accessibility, was not only after he had retired from the NBA but after his death in 2020 as well.
There were also frustrations with the offer Nike had presented that didn’t similarly align with other “lifetime” offers that the company holds with both Michael Jordan and Lebron James.
“My hope will always be to allow Kobe’s fans to get and wear his products,” Vanessa shared. “I will continue to fight for that. Kobe’s products sell out in seconds. That says everything.”
“I was hoping to forge a lifelong partnership with Nike that reflects my husband’s legacy. We will always do everything we can to honor Kobe and Gigi’s legacies. That will never change,” she added.
ESPN also reported that all future releases of Kobe Bryant footwear or apparel produced by Nike will be halted and it’s possible that the Bryant estate could form a new partnership with new brands. The publication also got confirmation from Vanessa, that the estate owns the rights to both the “Mamba” logo and Kobe’s signature.
Do you own any of Kobe’s shoes or apparel produced by Nike? Which brand do you hope the Bryant estate will partner with in the future? Let us know by sending us your thoughts on Twitter @celebsecrets and don’t forget to leave your reaction down below!
