NBA star Nikola Jokic ditches Nike and makes shock new sponsorship venture as fans gasp ‘they fumbled bad’
NIKE lost a major client after Nikola Jokic moved on for a new brand.
Jokic has signed a multi-year deal with Chinese basketball brand 361 Degrees.
Nike is seeing a massive migration of talent away from their brand, as Jokic becomes the third former NBA MVP to leave the company.
The reigning MVP wore his new kicks, the 361 Degrees Big3 Future CQT, for the first time on Wednesday in a 113-104 win against the Toronto Raptors.
The shoes are not yet available to purchase in stores in America, but can be bought online at 361degreeshop.com for $300.
Jokic's shoe is one of the flagship products for 361 Degrees and is built with mesh and synthetics. It uses the company's Carbon Critical and SOARSYSTEM technology.
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Teammate Aaron Gordon on the Denver Nuggets was already signed to 361 Degrees before Jokic joined.
Alongside Jokic, Steph Curry and James Harden both left Nike for other brands earlier in their careers.
Harden left for Adidas in 2015 and Curry signed with Under Armour in 2013.
Nike is also reportedly at risk of losing their biggest athlete in Tiger Woods.
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Woods has been with Nike since 1996 and has made nearly $500 million from the sponsorship.
He is in year 27 with Nike, but his ten-year, $200 million deal is set to expire.
Nike has continuously rolled back their presence in golf, going from making balls and clubs to exclusively making golf clothing.
Woods has been forced to use other brands like TaylorMade and Bridgestone to fill his golf bag.
He also already ditched Nike shoes in favor of Foot-Joy golf shoes.
There hasn't been any official word if the two parties will work out a deal, but for now Woods has emphasized "I'm still wearing their product."