Who Wants A Kobe Stake? Nike Called The Obvious Choice

Burns Sports President Bob Williams estimates that Lakers G Kobe Bryant, who ended his six-year relationship with adidas yesterday, is "seeking a deal worth about $10[M] a year vs. about $5[M] from adidas," according to USA TODAY (7/16). SportsCorp President Marc Ganis said Bryant's next shoe deal "could be one of those mega deals in the $100[M] range for 10 years. And it could be larger than that." Ganis, on potential companies to sign Bryant: "You have to think Nike. Unless Reebok comes in with some money, you'd expect him to go with Nike — he could go with the Jordan [brand], like Derek Jeter." Sports Business Group President David Carter added Bryant is "a known entity and proven winner. He's head and shoulders above the others [in the NBA] right now" (N.Y. POST, 7/16). Burns Sports' Williams said of Bryant, "I'd be shocked if he didn't have a deal in the works already" (ESPN.com, 7/15). More Williams: "The obvious choice is Nike. But it wouldn't surprise me if he goes to a company other than Nike that would be willing to have him be the centerpiece of their basketball marketing" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 7/15). Reebok VP/Global Communications Denise Kaigler, when asked about Bryant, said that the company "would consider any opportunity that would 'further enhance the Reebok brand'" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/16). 16W Marketing co-Founder Steve Rosner, a former exec at SFX, which now reps Bryant, said that Bryant's image "may be too closely tied" to adidas. Rosner: "In the industry he is definitely known as an Adidas guy. From the Kobe Bryant standpoint, I think it's going to be somewhat of a challenge to align himself with a company that is willing to market him" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/16).

WHAT HAPPENED TO ADIDAS? ESPN.com's Darren Rovell cited sources as saying that Bryant "didn't like the way some of [adidas'] shoes fit him." But adidas spokesperson Nicole Vollebregt said, "This is not about the product. There just comes a time where you see the future differently and amicably part ways." Vollebregt said sales of Bryant products "were good, although sales of the KobeTwo were disappointing, because the design 'wasn't as commercially accepted as we would have liked.'" Vollebregt added, "This was not a financially motivated decision" (ESPN.com, 7/15). Mosaic Research analyst Michael Shea: "Adidas blew it. He was certainly the biggest marquee player [for the brand]" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 7/15). But the WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that while the decision to end the deal with Bryant "took the shine off the stock" yesterday — it was down 3.7% in trading in Germany — the move "could save the company millions of dollars" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/16). In Portland, Boaz Herzog cites observers as saying that the split with Bryant leaves adidas "with a big hole in its quest to overtake ... Nike for hoops shoe supremacy." Univ. of OR Warsaw Sports Marketing Center Dir Rick Burton: "Replacing him will be difficult; it's problematic for them, at least in the U.S." Meanwhile, "to clear out inventory, retailers have slashed the price" of the KobeTwo. But "despite the poor showing" for the KobeTwo, sales of adidas basketball shoes increased 40% last year and are up 50% this year (Portland OREGONIAN, 7/16).

WHO'S NEXT? Which shoe company do you think will sign Bryant? Vote on The Daily Poll.