One of many faces of worldwide basketball seems to be taking situation along with his major sponsor.
After Nike launched its “Successful Isn’t For Everybody” advert oriented across the 2024 Paris Olympics, star Kevin Durant — who conspicuously wasn’t included within the movie — took to Instagram to specific his displeasure.
“@nike inform me, am I a foul individual?????” Durant posted on his Instagram story whereas carrying a Nike Crew USA basketball shirt.
The 35-year-old appeared to make reference to the chorus used all through Nike’s industrial, which included basketball stars LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kobe Bryant, A’ja Wilson, Victor Wembanyama and Sabrina Ionescu.
Durant then adopted up his unique put up with an image of him receiving his 2012 gold medal in Nike garb, accompanied with the textual content “Been wit yall each step of the way in which @nike.”
The dangerous beef appeared to increase deeper after Durant’s agent, Wealthy Kleiman, remarked “It’s so good to be seen” after Durant was photographed for a Crew USA x Kith merchandise collaboration.
The 14-time All-Star has solely worn Nike footwear all through his illustrious profession and launched his signature “KD” line in 2009.
In April 2023, Durant turned simply the third athlete ever to signal a lifetime contract with the model.
Concerning his on-the-court play as a substitute of attire, Durant has been sidelined from Crew USA’s pre-Olympic competitors as he rehabs from a calf damage.
Nevertheless, there appeared optimism for a return, with The Athletic’s Shams Charania noting that Durant practiced on Friday and will play in Monday’s matchup with Germany.
Even sans the four-time scoring champion, Crew USA hasn’t missed a lot of a step, going 4-0 in exhibition showcases up to now — though one such win was a one-point escape towards South Sudan.
The People start their journey for a fifth straight gold medal towards Serbia — who they crushed, 105-79, on July 17 — on July 28 from Lille, France.
