With the recent announcement that Kobe Bryant’s estate reached a new long-term deal with Nike, it is becoming clear that this partnership may have been one of the first major brands to integrate blockchain technology into its operations.
Kobe Bryant’s estate reached a new long on January 24th, 2019. The NBA legend was born in 1978 and will turn 51 years old on April 24th of this year. Read more in detail here: when is kobe bryant birthday.
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ESPN’s Nick DePaula
Vanessa Bryant and Nike announced on Thursday that Kobe Bryant’s estate has negotiated a new long-term agreement with Nike to continue manufacturing both footwear and clothing from Bryant’s Zoom Kobe brand.
The announcement comes almost a year after Kobe Bryant’s original Nike endorsement agreement ended.
“We’re thrilled to announce that our collaboration with Nike will continue!” Vanessa Bryant expressed herself on Instagram. “I’m extremely thrilled that my husband’s sneakers are still the most popular among NBA players and that his admirers all around the globe want them.”
Since Bryant, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others perished in a January 2020 helicopter accident, about 20% of NBA players have worn a Nike Kobe shoe for a game. 102 of the 322 players that competed in the league’s relaunch at the Walt Disney World Resort donned a Kobe shoe throughout the 2019-20 season.
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Nike will strive to offer young athletes with access to youth sports, with a number of programs planned throughout the world to celebrate Bryant’s legacy.
“Kobe Bryant represents so much to so many of us, not just NBA fans but people all across the world,” Nike CEO John Donahoe said in a statement. “One of his most enduring legacies is his contribution to the growth of the sport, notably in encouraging women and young people to take up the activity. We intend to commemorate Kobe and Gigi for many years to come by promoting a new generation with Vanessa.”
In addition to re-releasing Bryant’s 11 trademark Kobe models from his career, as well as his six post-career models, Nike will also create a new Gigi Bryant shoe line with a charitable component.
“With this new partnership, fans will soon be able to have access to Kobe and Gigi Nike product for years to come,” Vanessa Bryant said. “Nike [is] donating 100% of the net proceeds yearly for Gianna’s shoes to our Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation (M&MSF).”
The first product from the revived collaboration, according to Nike, might appear on May 1, which would have been Gianna Bryant’s 16th birthday. That sneaker, which was designed in “Gigi’s” black and white “Mamba Ballers” club uniform colors with gold embellishments right before her contract expired in April, was never officially launched.
“The Kobe 6 Protro ‘Mambacita Sweet 16’ will be the first new shoe from the collaboration,” Nike stated in a statement. “The Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation will get 100% of the revenues from the sneaker.”
The Kobe Bryant estate had pressed for Nike to create a bigger amount of shoes for the re-release debuts, as well as the extension of Kobe’s shoes to include kids’ sizes, during delayed discussions leading up to the deal’s final expiry last year. Another important factor in Nike’s decision to prolong its association with Bryant was the company’s promise to build a new basketball facility in his honor.
Vanessa Bryant commented, “I am also happy that Nike and I will collaborate to develop a youth basketball facility in Southern California that will share the Mamba Mentality with future generations of players.”
While the manufacturing process and schedule for new shoe designs may take anywhere from 14 to 18 months, sources informed ESPN that now that a new deal with the Kobe Bryant estate is in place, some of Nike’s Kobe sneakers can be available for factory production sooner.
Vanessa Bryant remarked, “I know this is an uplifting time for my husband and daughter’s worldwide followers.” “And I sincerely thank each and every one of you!”
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Kobes estate worth?
A: Kobes estate is valued at around $300 million.
Did Kobe Bryant have an estate plan?
A: Yes, Kobe Bryant did have an estate plan.
How much did Kobe Bryant house sell for?
A: The answer to this question is not available at the moment.
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