Cooper Flagg founds himself in a difficult state of affairs because the Duke Blue Devils star wears Nike exhibits to his current basketball recreation, regardless of being sponsored by one of many main rivals in New Steadiness.
The 18-year-old ace has worn Nike trainers all through the whole NCAA match, which is probably not what New Steadiness anticipated after they penned the rising star to a brand new deal.
However there are causes for why he is sporting a rival’s merchandise and why New Steadiness aren’t too bothered by the participant’s look, though he does admit it’s an traditional place.
“Effectively, it is clearly a troublesome state of affairs,” Flagg stated. “I really like New Steadiness.
“However Duke is with Nike, so now we have to do this for now.”
Why do New Steadiness not care?
Nike have been affiliated with Duke since 1992, earlier than Flagg was even born, and after back-to-back college basketball titles via Mike Krzyzewski, the partnership has solely solidified.
A part of a brand new contract between the school and the provider is that each one athletes, no matter their different sponsors, should put on Nike attire via till a minimum of the 2027 season every time they’re on workforce duties.
This coverage can be in place at different faculties. For instance, the LSU Tigers‘ Flau’jae Johnson is signed to Puma however can be noticed in Nike every time she’s representing the Tigers.
New Steadiness, nonetheless, do not thoughts. The corporate shaped in Maine, the place Flagg is from, know they’re backing a future NBA famous person. Tipped to go first total within the 2025 Draft, the corporate sees him as a long-term funding.
Thus, they don’t view it as worthwhile attempting to problem Nike and threat placing strain on the participant and his school when their eyes are firmly mounted on the longer term, when he might even earn his personal signature shoe.
Present projections forecast Flagg and New Steadiness for an enormous contract, probably even in his rookie season, that would doubtlessly rival Zion Williamson‘s $75m take care of Nike – highlighting the worth New Steadiness locations on him.
