[Lotto StudParticipant]

 As the news broke over the last past two days, Kyrie Irving has received the torch from Kevin Durant as the next athlete under the brand to become a relevant face.

There is no knock at all with me going more in depth with this post. Many may disagree that he does not deserve the billing due to lack of post season aspirations. To a certain extent, this could be a valid case and point but I see it otherwise. If one goes back to look at the Nike brand as a whole from a marketing perspective, they lack a face from the PG position and have been missing out for years now due to other competitors such as Reebok, Adidas and Under Armour. I would like to bring it back to the forefront that the biggest miss of All-Time from a marketing standpoint since LeBron James was John Wall fresh out of Kentucky. Ever since Wall disappointed the sneaker world of doing the "impossible" by inking the deal with Reebok that no one seen coming, Nike has done nothing to redeem themselves of landing a face for the PG position up until now with Irving.

It’s a bit disturbing to go back and see how many Superstar players were on the roster to not have a signature line of their own. Just to think of Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook and the list continues of guys who were looked over which would have really been good for the brand. It has to be a crime in the sneaker realm how Adidas has been swiping the PG crop clean from Nike. Sales pitch must become a priority going forward. Nothing has been going according to plan whenever I look at the long tier list of guys under the umbrella of Adidas. Derrick Rose, John Wall, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holliday, Ricky Rubio, Kyle Lowry, Mike Conley and Dante Exum, all who are very marketable PGs in their own right. Quite a few of the guys listed above are instant hits for revenue outside of the US, such as Rubio and Exum.

Let’s not forget to mention the sensational Stephen Curry walking freely to Under Armour. There is no way that Nike should have never tabbed him for a long term signature deal after the abundance of accomplishments this early into his career. One brand’s lost is another’s treasure. Under Armour is in a ‘Golden State of Mind’ while rubbing their hands like Birdman.

Now that Irving is out of the way, I would like to see how quick they can get a campaign up and running for Anthony Davis as their signature big man of the future. The history with Nike’s shoe appeal for previous bigs have been great for consumers. With the likes of Charles Barkley being a very popular choice, Chris Webber, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett do not fall short of releasing some timeless threads. Nike must have to register the Davis ballot rather sooner than never. Within the last few years there have been quite a few old school releases of Duncan’s and Garnett’s. Nike heads, is this a big man sign?

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

I was hoping Paul George would get his own signature shoe but then that injury happened. He can still get one though if bounces back strong next year. Other players obviously who at least have a chance of getting one are Wiggins and Jabari, the two future faces of the NBA. 

I do see Anthony Davis as the next player receiving a signature shoe from Nike, with the theme centered around his Brow nickname. Adidas meanwhile is losing out hard on the shoe game as Under Armour has eclipsed them on shoe revenue already I believe. Rose was huge for them before the injury but after, you can tell people got fed up of the Drose shoe. Lillard thouugh one of NBA’s young star is not really the player you would want to take up the mantle of Rose as Adidas’ lead endorser. He just does not have that much star power as other bigtime guard like Rose, Penny or Iverson. Wiggins and Exum right now are Adidas’ biggest hopes of salvaging their share of the basketball shoe market. They are two very marketable players.

 

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

I was hoping Paul George would get his own signature shoe but then that injury happened. He can still get one though if bounces back strong next year. Other players obviously who at least have a chance of getting one are Wiggins and Jabari, the two future faces of the NBA. 

I do see Anthony Davis as the next player receiving a signature shoe from Nike, with the theme centered around his Brow nickname. Adidas meanwhile is losing out hard on the shoe game as Under Armour has eclipsed them on shoe revenue already I believe. Rose was huge for them before the injury but after, you can tell people got fed up of the Drose shoe. Lillard thouugh one of NBA’s young star is not really the player you would want to take up the mantle of Rose as Adidas’ lead endorser. He just does not have that much star power as other bigtime guard like Rose, Penny or Iverson. Wiggins and Exum right now are Adidas’ biggest hopes of salvaging their share of the basketball shoe market. They are two very marketable players.

 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 Nike has recently released a PE for George. The sneaker would be a great collectors item but I’m not a fan of the colorway to spend the money. I just may go back and purchase, but I am currently waiting on another rare release that should have been out already. Until I find out any further details, I will hold off on the George purchase.

As far as Adidas losing out. I cannot agree with this 100% but there is some truth within your statement. From a fan perspective, PGs are the most marketable athletes in the game/fashion world of the sport outside of the big time Superstar players. Rose will send the brand in a downward spiral due to all the foot/ankle injuries but the next man up to compete should be Damian Lillard who happens to play in Niketown. This would be a great tactic within the Adidas brand to throw him a signature line as well. After all, Lillard has proven more than the previous Trail Blazer experiment in Sebastian Telfair. Times have changed since then. Lillard has placed his stamp on the Blazers organization unlike Telfair.

At the end of the day, we all can agree that Nike has more misses than direct hits with acquiring top tier athletes to not take chances on the open market with signature lines. I really believe they do not know how much of an impact PE’s are in the sneaker world outside of what’s commercial. The best way to break it down is comparing a rapper’s album and mixtape. You have the commercial supporters and the diehard core supporters. If I were apart of the brand, I would put emphasis on the core. The core is what elevates any brand in all aspects of life in general with the addition of marketing.

 

 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

 Nike has recently released a PE for George. The sneaker would be a great collectors item but I’m not a fan of the colorway to spend the money. I just may go back and purchase, but I am currently waiting on another rare release that should have been out already. Until I find out any further details, I will hold off on the George purchase.

As far as Adidas losing out. I cannot agree with this 100% but there is some truth within your statement. From a fan perspective, PGs are the most marketable athletes in the game/fashion world of the sport outside of the big time Superstar players. Rose will send the brand in a downward spiral due to all the foot/ankle injuries but the next man up to compete should be Damian Lillard who happens to play in Niketown. This would be a great tactic within the Adidas brand to throw him a signature line as well. After all, Lillard has proven more than the previous Trail Blazer experiment in Sebastian Telfair. Times have changed since then. Lillard has placed his stamp on the Blazers organization unlike Telfair.

At the end of the day, we all can agree that Nike has more misses than direct hits with acquiring top tier athletes to not take chances on the open market with signature lines. I really believe they do not know how much of an impact PE’s are in the sneaker world outside of what’s commercial. The best way to break it down is comparing a rapper’s album and mixtape. You have the commercial supporters and the diehard core supporters. If I were apart of the brand, I would put emphasis on the core. The core is what elevates any brand in all aspects of life in general with the addition of marketing.

 

 

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

Yes they released a PE for PG, but PE aren’t the same as signature shoes. I’m talking about the player’s own personal shoe, like Kyrie’s and Wall’s just recently. PG is the main advertiser for I think Hyperdunks now for Nike, and they are just giving him customized editions of the Hyperdunk. I hope in time he does get his wn signature shoe though. 

[Jr. ROXASParticipant]

Yes they released a PE for PG, but PE aren’t the same as signature shoes. I’m talking about the player’s own personal shoe, like Kyrie’s and Wall’s just recently. PG is the main advertiser for I think Hyperdunks now for Nike, and they are just giving him customized editions of the Hyperdunk. I hope in time he does get his wn signature shoe though. 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

I agree. Also, I am very aware of the difference between PEs and sigs. Even still, the sneaker would be a great collectors item for George’s core supporters. As you’ve already stated, he just has to bounce back stronger than ever for something to be in the works. 

I’m very excited to see what’s in store for Irving in the future once the creativity evolves. People tend to forget that Kobe’s first shoe with Nike was a basic design as well. Kyrie has a vision for his line that will be very succesful. I hope somehow that Nike can merge Uncle Drew with the vintage LeBron commercial scheme. 

Anthony Davis’ line will be very interesting, because I have a gut feeling Nike will overprice his sigs. He tends to wear heavier sneakers on the court, which gives me the indication that make Nike will dig even deeper to add more appeal for the overprice tag. I’m not saying the sneakers will not be worth the retail, but Davis’ current style does not favor the New Generation that leans more toward the lightweight feel.

 

 

[Lotto StudParticipant]

I agree. Also, I am very aware of the difference between PEs and sigs. Even still, the sneaker would be a great collectors item for George’s core supporters. As you’ve already stated, he just has to bounce back stronger than ever for something to be in the works. 

I’m very excited to see what’s in store for Irving in the future once the creativity evolves. People tend to forget that Kobe’s first shoe with Nike was a basic design as well. Kyrie has a vision for his line that will be very succesful. I hope somehow that Nike can merge Uncle Drew with the vintage LeBron commercial scheme. 

Anthony Davis’ line will be very interesting, because I have a gut feeling Nike will overprice his sigs. He tends to wear heavier sneakers on the court, which gives me the indication that make Nike will dig even deeper to add more appeal for the overprice tag. I’m not saying the sneakers will not be worth the retail, but Davis’ current style does not favor the New Generation that leans more toward the lightweight feel.

 

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 doesn’t Jordan brand specifically have CP3. Another time flight PG not under Nike.

[ChewyParticipant]

 doesn’t Jordan brand specifically have CP3. Another time flight PG not under Nike.

[Lotto StudParticipant]

Correct.

[Lotto StudParticipant]

Correct.

[Halen RoyParticipant]

Nike is a well known shoes brand with top quality and unique design shoes specially for sports men, Servis is also a big name in top quality shoes for everyone.

[Halen RoyParticipant]

Nike is a well known shoes brand with top quality and unique design shoes specially for sports men, Servis is also a big name in top quality shoes for everyone.

[Author]

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