http://counterkicks.com/2011/01/06/...h-leaves-nike-signs-with-chinese-brand-luyou/ CounterKicks can exclusively confirm that Steve Nash has left Nike and signed with Chinese brand Luyou. Nike issued the following statement to CounterKicks: “We can confirm Steve Nash is no longer under contract with us. We had a great run with Steve and we wish him all the best. We’re extremely pleased to work with the NBA’s top players like Kobe, LeBron, Durant and Wade, who wear our basketball products, the most innovative in the game today.” Nash’s decision to endorse a Chinese footwear brand follows in the footsteps of recent headline deals like Kevin Garnett leaving adidas for ANTA. Adding context, Nash is repped by BDA Sports who has pioneered Chinese endorsement deals for NBA athletes with its clients including Yao Ming and later partnering up Baron Davis and Hasheem Thabeet with Li-Ning. The Nike and Steve Nash relationship ends after 15 years. Terms of the new Nash and Luyou deal are not yet available. More info to come on CounterKicks as the story develops…
LEt's hope he has better success with this chineese company then Grant Hill did with that italian company.
I'm not a dedicated "kicks" follower, but do those brands sell well over there in the USA or in Europe? Do they sell at all? I've never seen them in stores.
Y Morey no have endorsement deal with Chinese dress shoe company? Nash washed up fo sho if he switch to Chinese brand. They no good.
It depends on the player. If Kobe or LBJ signed with Apex, no doubt that particular Apex shoe will do well. If its Hayes, then only in Asia. XD
Do Chinese shoes sell well in the US? I always thought all these endorsement deals were geared toward the Chinese market.
Because you're old, in your twilight, and still want superstar money. Little jab at the end by Nike where they basically say: "hey, thanks for playing Nash! guess we'll have to get by with only LeBron, Kobe, Durant. darn!"
Because Nash would like a shoe-in to the Chinese market before he is traded to the Rockets and is opened up to a slew of new endorsement opportunities.
The Chinese knows something we don't? We "ALL" know that once you join the Rockets you instantly get a shoe deal..
they seem to do these deals because with the chinese brands they can maintain sponsorship for many years to come. Unless you're Michael, retirement is the end of your nike deals.
I'm a sneaker geek and love to hoop, and Asian. The kicks are usually ugly, terrible to hoop in (doesn't hold up, no grip, bad ankle support) and I mentioned the Asian thing b/c they're made in the rivaling assembly plants Nike and adidas has and are usually overall just bad.
seeing how steve nash is one of the more enlightened athletes, i wouldnt be surprised if it was a moral/ethics decision. nike is notorious for using cheap labor in foreign countries that is borderline illegal. theres a controversy in my country regarding a nike factory/workshop that employs foreign workers from south asia, whom are given terrible living quarters for very little pay to work long, hard hours. my guess is maybe he struck a deal with the chinese company which includes him having the right to oversee their operation? either way lets all never buy nikes.
