Cancar said there isn’t the same obsession with basketball shoes in Europe as there is in America. There’s also issues of economics and logistics. “If you’ve got a guy who’s a two-time MVP back-to-back – about to hopefully win his third – it’s like, there’s nothing more flashy than that.” I think that’s probably the only thing I can think of,” Nnaji said. “Maybe because their game is more flashy. Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji is, admittedly, not an obsessed sneakerhead like some of his peers, but he took a shot at explaining why big men haven’t enjoyed the same sneaker success as the guards. Reebok invested heavily in O’Neal as a rookie, long before he won the only MVP of his career with the Lakers in 2000. It took Shaquille O’Neal’s huge personality and even bigger game for a traditional center to sustain a long line of signature sneakers even before the NBA’s position-less revolution. Kevin Garnett sported Nike and Adidas shoes throughout his career but had to wait for a late-career deal with Chinese brand Anta to get a signature shoe. “Maybe that’s the hesitation for Nike and Nikola … I think ‘Air Joker’ sounds pretty damn cool.” Tim Duncan’s a great player, but his shoes didn’t sell,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after Friday’s practice. He finished his career as an Adidas athlete. Arguably the greatest power forward to play the game, Duncan had a couple of exclusive Nikes early in his career. While it might seem like there’s a bias against European big men when it comes to signature shoes, the issue appears to be broader.īefore Jokic and Nowitzki, there was Tim Duncan. “But if it doesn’t happen, I’m not going to die. “It would be nice,” Jokic said after leading the Nuggets to a win over the Bucks on Saturday. It’s not surprising given his consistent disinterest in most things that measure individual success. While a signature shoe has become an NBA status symbol in the last few decades, Jokic doesn’t see it as a big deal. The upcoming feature film “Air” will tell the story of Nike’s pursuit of Jordan with Ben Affleck (Phil Knight) and Matt Damon (Sonny Vaccaro) cast in key roles. The signature shoe boom has made its way to Hollywood. “I feel like after basketball, he wants to be the least-recognizable person in the world,” Cancar told The Denver Gazette on Saturday. Vlatko Cancar did not think that part of the business would appeal to his teammate and close friend. Jordan still makes more than any active player when it comes to shoe sales, while stars like Penny Hardaway, Allen Iverson and Bryant continue to sell shoes bearing their name. I know Nike doesn’t do too many player editions.”Ī shoe line can provide a valuable source of income even into retirement. “I don’t see anybody else that has those shoes. They’re dope,” Aaron Gordon said of Jokic’s shoes after Saturday’s win over Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. There are no royalties unless the name or identity is attached to the shoe - like Antetokounmpo’s Nikes, which feature a play on his “Greek Freak” nickname. ![]() It also comes with a far less lucrative contract. That means his shoes of choice come with his personalized logo, featuring a jester’s hat above either his initials or jersey number, and colorways that go with Denver’s different uniform options. For now, the best Jokic can do is a player edition. Players get more input when it comes to the design, and it’s an easy way for an NBA player to add tens of millions of dollars to their bank account. There’s an added level of research to optimize the shoe to their namesake’s on-court needs. ![]() ![]() There are many perks to having a signature shoe. The streak goes back to the 2007 MVP, Dirk Nowitzki, another European big man who mastered the fundamental aspects of the game but did not possess the high-flying, explosive athleticism shoe companies covet in their signature athletes. The trend goes back nearly 15 years thanks to Russell Westbrook (Jordan), Stephen Curry (Under Armour), Kevin Durant (Nike), LeBron James (Nike), Derrick Rose (Adidas) and the late Kobe Bryant, whose Nikes remain a popular on-court choice for NBA players. James Harden, who has his own Adidas line, won the MVP award before Antetokounmpo. Jokic has, at least for now, ended a long line of former MVPs with a signature shoe. “I didn’t have any conversation,” Jokic answered when asked if he and Nike have discussed the possibility. Jokic has been a loyal Nike athlete throughout his career, but he doesn’t appear any closer to joining the ranks of NBA players with a signature shoe. Jokic previously has worn different editions of Nike's Hyperdunk and Zoom Rize lines. When Joel Embiid, the betting favorite to win MVP, takes the court for Monday’s against the Nuggets, he’ll likely do so in his Under Armour Embiid 1.
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