Oh Wow: Nike Matches Under Armour’s Huge Offer For Kevin Durant

The tide has turned in the sneaker battle between Nike and Under Armour, as many perceived Durant to be headed to the Maryland-based brand, but Nike has swooped in at the 11th hour of their deadline to offer Durant an unprecedented sneaker contract.

It is being reported that Nike has countered Under Armour’s offer, which is between $265 million and $285 million for the next 10 years. Nike, whose seven-year deal that guaranteed Durant $60 million is expiring, made an initial offer of about $20 million a year that was far from what Durant was looking for. Under Armour’s huge pay for Durant had many believing that Nike would even let him go at that price. While Jay-Z was kicking off his latest Made In America festival in Philadelphia, Nike reached out to Roc Nation Sports to send the offer sheet.

While the numbers haven’t been officially released, it is rumored that Durant should make more — in base and royalties — than the Thunder will pay him over the next two seasons ($41.2 million). This might seem like a heavy price tag even for Durant, but Durant’s signature line generated 175 Million dollars for Nike last year, while the brand didn’t exhaust all retail possibilities.
 

source

Jay Z Says Money Is A Thang, Gives Nike $300 Million Deadline In KD Deal

Roc Nation Sports head Jay Z is reportedly flexing his executive muscle and forcing iconic sportswear brand Nike to make a decision on whether or not to retain his star client Kevin Durant by next week.

 

According to reports, Nike has a few days to determine if it’ll meet a deal worth nearly $300 million for the NBA superstar.

An interesting two-on-one is shaping up in the basketball sneaker game: Jay-Z and Kevin Durant vs. Nike (NKE). Durant, who is represented by Mr. Z’s Roc Nation, has given Nike until Wednesday to match a 10-year sponsorship offer from Under Armour (UA), according to ESPN. The deal is worth between $265 million and $285 million. (Business Week)

Buzz about KD possibly landing a deal for ten years worth up to $285 million surfaced this week.

The deal includes Under Armour stock and other incentives, such a community center built in his mother’s name, whose exact worth will not be known for some time. Nike, which saw its signature business related to the Oklahoma City Thunder forward grow to roughly $175 million at retail last season, will have the right to match, which is a condition of Durant’s current contract with the brand. Durant can still choose Nike if it doesn’t match but can’t legally choose Under Armour if Nike does. (ESPN)

Young Hov was reportedly concerned with looking out for his Roc Nation client’s interest and suggested he bail out on Team USA.

Team USA is only the latest entity to be left with a sour taste after dealing with Durant and his latest agent. The folks at Nike aren’t exactly happy. The folks at Gatorade already were unhappy. “It’s like Jay-Z is determined to do a scorched earth negotiation with everyone Kevin Durant is currently aligned with, and they aren’t doing him any favors,” one source close to Durant told SheridanHoops on Friday as Team USA prepared for its first exhibition game in preparation for the 2014 World Cup. (Sheridan Hoops)
 

sohh

Jay Z Singled Out For Making Roc Nation Star Kevin Durant Quit Team USA

Rap mogul Jay Z is reportedly responsible for NBA superstar Kevin Durant pulling out of Team USA’s summer basketball competition in hopes of securing a substantial contract offer.

 

According to reports, Young Hov is concerned with looking out for his Roc Nation client’s interest.

Team USA is only the latest entity to be left with a sour taste after dealing with Durant and his latest agent. The folks at Nike aren’t exactly happy. The folks at Gatorade already were unhappy. “It’s like Jay-Z is determined to do a scorched earth negotiation with everyone Kevin Durant is currently aligned with, and they aren’t doing him any favors,” one source close to Durant told SheridanHoops on Friday as Team USA prepared for its first exhibition game in preparation for the 2014 World Cup. (Sheridan Hoops)

Some reports claim a $30 million contract offer and KD needing time away from serious competition are the top reasons for his withdrawal.

The comments looked at through a Durant lense would lend itself to talks that KD is being courted by Under Armour for more than $30 million per season. But the Durant withdrawal statement from Aug. 7 cites Durant needing “to take a step back and take some time away, both mentally and physically in order to prepare for the upcoming NBA season.” (News OK)
 

sohh 

NBA Fines Drake;Toronto Raptors $25K For Pitching Kevin Durant To Play For Raptors (Video)

 

According to sources, the Toronto Raptors have been fined $25,000 thanks to comments made by Drake. The charge comes a week after his annual OVO Fest in Toronto. After performing “0 to 100″, Drizzy made a pitch to Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant, who was in attendance. In 2016, Durant becomes an unrestricted free agent. Unfortunately, as Global Ambassador to the Raptors, Drake violated the league’s anti-tampering rules.

 



NBA: Under Armour Reportedly Offered Kevin Durant $30 Million A Year, Will He Leave Nike?

The past couple of years the popularity of Kevin Durant’s shoe line with Nike has grown exponentially coming second only to LeBron James in active players. He may switch things up however as Under Armour has reportedly made him a very lucrative offer.

 

According to a person familiar with negotiations, Durant, whose seven-year, $60 million deal with Nike is expiring, could earn as much as $30 million annually if he signs with Under Armour Inc., whose headquarters are in Durant’s home state of Maryland. Nike and Adidas are also in talks with Durant.

Adidas has been known to throw out some pretty big numbers as well so their offer could rival Under Armour’s. The question is will the leverage cause Nike to up their offer or will they let Durant walk. The other question being raised by some is if he signs with Under Armour, will it affect his free agency decision. Although he still has two more years to go, there’s already reports of him returning to his home state of Maryland and playing with the Washington Wizards, UA happens to be located there as well.
 

ifwt/nydn

Kevin Durant's Alleged Side Chick Puts Him on Twitter Blast?

Soon after Kevin Durant announced that he was engaged to WNBA player Monica Wright, the two took a break from their relationship, and it seems that his side chick is putting him on Twitter blast.

 

 A woman by the name of "Mercedes" took to her Twitter page with a message reading, "I don't care that KD has a wife, wife or no wife he still f*cked the same."

 Here's the side chick in question

 

Right before the holidays, people became suspicious of Kevin and Monica's engagement after she came home from playing overseas and was photographed not wearing her ring. Rumors were furthered when Kevin was out partying on Christmas and New Years without his lady in sight. 

Here's KD with fiance' Monica Wright

 

 

 



 

 

 vlad



Kevin Durant Opens Up His Own Restaurant: ‘KD’s Southern Cuisine’

Not content to sit on the sidelines when it came to taking a swing at other business ventures, Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Kevin Durant has decided to open his own restaurant. “Kd’s Southern Cuisine” opened in Oklahoma City this month, though only time will tell if KD has thrown a gutter ball in his first toss into the ring, or if his restaurant will turn out to be a real “home run.”

 

Unlike the menus at most other athlete-themed vanity restaurants, KD’s Southern Cuisine doesn’t read as if it was attempting to secure a high-end sports bar clientele. There’s nary a chicken finger or tortilla wrap to be found, with fried green tomatoes, fried okra, grits and collard greens dotting entrees that include proteins like trout and catfish. Heartier types can go for the southern style meatloaf or smothered pork chop, alongside a selection of steaks. A lip-smackin’ touchdown!

Thankfully, though the menu and website is dotted with Oklahoma City Thunder colors, there’s not a lot of “Slam Dunk Salads!” or “Three-Point Dipping Sauces” to be found.
Until you get to the “Baller Menu.” Yeah, son.

The Baller Menu is where KD and his NBA mates will likely choose their entrees from the private room encased in glass that frosts at the flick of a switch for privacy. The Baller Menu offers prime beef in New York strip and Tomahawk rib-eye. It also includes tenderloin medallions with toast points and a collections of iced shellfish.
 

Yahoo Sports



Kevin Durant Clears The Air On Dwyane Wade Beef (Interview)

KD was asked about the beef during an interview on NBC Sports Radio’s The Chris Mannix Show & he cleared the air. Check out what he had to say about it.

 

 

Reports SI.com:

 

 

Chris Mannix: I’ve gotta ask you about the firestorm with James Harden and Dwyane Wade and all that nonsense that was out there. You tweeted at me the other day, you said, ‘Don’t buy into this beef Chris, it’s not a real beef.’ Let me ask you this, in this way: Were you surprised it became the story that it did? 

 Kevin Durant: To be honest, I forgot all about it, I forgot that I said that until I checked on Twitter. A lot of Heat fans tweeted me and said not so nice things, which was expected. But I wasn’t trying to disrespect D-Wade in any type of way or discredit anything he’s done. He’s a champion, their team is a champion. I can’t say anything about their team. I can’t. They beat us in the Finals and they won back-to-back. I can’t say anything about their team. Basically what I was saying was that D-Wade passed the torch onto guys like James Harden, just to name one. I think that was just my opinion. I respect D-Wade, and I’m sure everybody’s saying that he’s going to use that as motivation, but he’s always been a motivated player, and it’s not going to change what I bring to the table. And I’m gonna stand by everything I say. No matter if I’m winning or losing, I’m going to say the same thing.

 

CM: What did you think of the Instagram photo he posted with the writing on it?
 
KD: The handwriting was immaculate. D-Wade, he’s a high-level player. I didn’t really think too much about it. It is what it is. Some people get motivated different ways, and that’s how he chose to do it, and I respect him. There’s no disrespect to him or the organization, it’s just how I felt at the time when they were asking the question. Like I said, I’m going to stand behind it. I’m not going to let anybody change my stance on anything. Like I said, I respect what they’ve done as a team, what he’s done as a player. But I was just talking about today as of right now, who I would take. 

Kevin Durant’s Beef With Wade Ends Endorsement W/ Gatorade?

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant won’t have his endorsement with Gatorade renewed after it expires next week, and it might be related his recent war of words with Dwyane Wade.

 

 

Reports Vlad:

 

Gatorade declined to comment on the issue, but it seems like the social media beef between the two players has influenced Gatorade’s decision. Wade was formerly endorsed by Gatorade as well.