Although it is "tricky to gauge sales driven directly by an endorsement deal," Cavaliers F LeBron James' lifetime deal with Nike "still offers good value" for the company, according to Kurt Badenhausen of FORBES. No current NBAer "sells more shoes" than James. Data from SportScanInfo shows that Nike sold $340M of James’ signature shoes in the retail FY that ended in January in the U.S., which is "almost twice as much" as Thunder F Kevin Durant, who ranked second. Lakers G Kobe Bryant was third at $105M. James also has "his own line of apparel and his shoes are big sellers outside the U.S., pushing revenue for Nike on James’ products well over" $200M. In addition, James "provides a halo effect with the Nike brand, helping drive sales of other Nike gear, particularly in basketball." Nike’s total revenue "has tripled since James signed on" in '03 and the stock price is up more than 1,000%. Few stars "can match the global reach and awareness" of James (FORBES.com, 12/8). USA TODAY's Sam Amick cited a source as saying that James' lifetime shoe deal "is worth significantly more" than the $500M that "has been speculated in some media reports." While an exact figure "hasn't been disclosed, it’s quite clear" that James is the "sneaker king of the NBA." The lifetime partnership "comes after a string of huge-money shoe deals that have set a new standard in the market," with Trail Blazers G Damian Lillard and adidas signing a deal with an eight-year base "that can be worth well over" $100M, Durant signing a 10-year, $300M deal with Nike four months later and Rockets G James Harden signing a 13-year, $200M deal with adidas in August (USATODAY.com, 12/8).
