Thursday, January 6th, 2011 at 11:40 am  |  40 responses

Steve Nash Leaves Nike, Set to Endorse Luyou

Our friends at Counterkicks broke the interesting sneaker news:

CounterKicks can exclusively confirm that Steve Nash has left Nike and has signed with Chinese brand Luyou.

Nike issued the following statement to CounterKicks:

“We can confirm Steve Nash is no longer under contract with us. We had a great run with Steve and we wish him all the best. We’re extremely pleased to work with the NBA’s top players like Kobe, LeBron, Durant and Wade, who wear our basketball products, the most innovative in the game today.”

…

The Nike and Steve Nash relationship ends after 15 years. Terms of the new Nash and Luyou deal are not yet available.

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , ,

  • http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

    Wow. Nice reporting by our man John Brilliant.

  • BEETSO

    What a commie! Haha. Jk. Nashty’s my dog. Love that guy.

  • R. Deahn

    Way to fight the machine Nashty! Welcome to the resistance.

  • dma

    Another Chinese company? They must be paying very well.

  • slamfan4life

    Cmon DERRICK ROSEEE eff adidas

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    seems to me that Nash probably bounced for more money not because chinese companies have better worker rights, or care more about the environment.
    Come on people, jsut think about that for a second.

  • LA Huey

    I like that The Swoosh added that jab at the end. “Nash is small potatoes”

  • mp7three

    Another NBA player on their way down with a Chinese shoe contract like KG & Kidd. So its about money since those players won’t sell shoes in the U.S. anymore and they won’t even be pushing product here anyway. Also I hope Luyou knows Nash isn’t going to need a playoff shoe this season.

  • cdennis

    Last I checked, Nike shoes are made in China and other developing Asian countries where workers have little to no rights.

  • http://stapledesign.com Spaceship Jay

    Good for Steve. I understand and agree with Allenp’s perspective, but on the petty side he did get 2 mvps and no signature sneaker.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    CDennis
    Almost all shoes are made in China where workers have little to no rights.
    So whether it’s Nike or Luyou, Nash wasn’t choosing his shoe company to “buck the machine.” That was my point. it’s about getting paid, and these chinese companies are paying cats.
    Spaceship
    That was like five or six years ago. He ain’t bouncing because he’s upset about his profile. He wants them ducats. Same reason he resigned in Phoenix.

  • Pingback: Tres Caliente: Homeless man hired by Cavs, D-Will not a happy camper | Patrick Crawley | Basketball Fiend

  • http://www.slamonline.com/ niQ

    Never heard of Luyou

  • kh

    I wish today’s date was April 1st.
    I understand why, but I like what Nike comes up/out with.

  • http://vandelay-industries.org Art Vandelay

    Another Chinese brand?

  • Zoom

    On a totally unrelated note, did anyone else see those new fighter jets the chinese have? They’re almost up there with ours. The Chinese ain’t playing games in any area lol.

  • 1982

    I like how people think countries with over 1 billion people WOULDN’T have a booming sneaker industry, even though clearly not everyone there can afford to wear Nikes…especially if they work at the factory.

    Also, criticizing Nash for taking the money is missing it by 10 years, he took the Nike deal for money too. He’s retiring soon, and wants a bigger stash under his mattress, especially since that show about him competing with other athletes got shaq’d.

  • Pingback: Jim Cleamons Wants To Coach College Basketball & The Top NBA News | Lakers Nation

  • http://slamonline.com Just Sayin’

    That’s funny. I like how people think countries with over 1 billion people wouldn’t have a sneaker industry, even though clearly not everyone there can afford to wear Nikes…especially if they work at the factory.

    I don’t think Nash made a bad move. He’s retiring soon, and wants a bigger stash under his mattress, especially since that show about him competing with other athletes got shaq’d.

  • http://www.stonesthrow.com Michael NZ

    Allenp always with the Nash hate.

  • 1982

    WTH, My comments never post…

  • 1982

    It’s funny how people are amazed that countries with over 1 billion people have a sneaker industry, even though clearly not everyone there can afford to wear Nikes. Nash is retiring soon too, and wants a bigger stash under his mattress, especially since that show about him competing with other athletes got shaq’d.

  • http://slamonline.com The Black Rick Kamla

    Steve had no choice people. Just like Gilbert Arenas, KG, Tracy McGrady etc. had no choice ot stay with Adidas. Nobody buys Steve Nash shoes period, most people don’t even know that he had his own shoe. He just wasn’t worth the investment.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    “hate” the most overused word on this website.
    Do you disagree with what I wrote, or did you just feel it didn’t need to be said?

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Because I didn’t criticize him. I believe that athletes shoudl make deals that benefit them. Always.

  • http://sjfklfsl.com Jukai

    Allenp is a REGULAR Nash hater.
    He’s also right. Nash is pulling a Pippen, he was underpaid his entire career and now he’s going where the money is. Luyou probably paid him mint and he waived goodbye to Nike.
    I wont say this is a good or bad decision, but I will say that Nash is doing some “bad decisions” basketball-wise which are “good decisions” for his wallet.

  • http://www.need4sheed.com Tarzan Cooper

    Luyou- by us, for us. ……. Us being chinese kids……. …… … .China has big eyes. They know exactly what theyre doing by devaluing their currency. Thats why us govt is pissed at them.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Sigh, I guess I’ll have to be a hater then.
    No matter how much praise I give dude, it’s never enough. Oh well. Wait until I post my next piece on the site, people are going to be pissed.

  • http://www.twitter.com/notebooknick NotebookNick

    I hate to do this, but Chris, I toldya.

  • http://sjfklfsl.com Jukai

    Allen: You never have ever given him praised unless it’s followed by “…. BUT”
    and if you write a hate piece on Nash, I will definitely submit a counterpiece to SLAM. No joke.

  • http://www.stonesthrow.com Michael NZ

    Could probably search SLAM pieces on Nash, which would feature Allenp within the first 5 or so comments, attempting to convince us that Nash is, in fact, a bad human being.

  • http://www.need4sheed.com Tarzan Cooper

    Sounds like im gonna like allens next piece. Its been awhile

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Hahaha
    I have never questioned nash as a human. And most of my complaints have nothing to do with him. Jukai knows.

  • Justin

    I might try to do some digging and see if I can find an AllenP post praising Nash. I could be at it for a few hours and if I’m not back by tomorrow, please tell the neighbours to come looking for me.
    BTW, Nash didn’t just re-sign in Phoenix for the money, although obviously that helped. He legitimately felt his team had a chance but also, his family is in Phoenix and he didn’t want to move them to another city. Now, you can believe what you want because it’s more convenient to be a hater but I’d rather listen to a guy who actually talked to him about it (yes, me) last summer when he came and stayed at the hotel I work at and also played ball with and against in high school. Just sayin’

  • http://slamonline.com Ugh

    I’m glad someone here knows what’s going on. Thanks for clearing up that worker issues, Allenp.

  • http://sjfklfsl.com Jukai

    Justin: Nash pretty much resigned with Phoenix cause of the money. I mean, it may have been other reasons, like comfortable with the area, likes the fans, and all that jazz… but it certainly wasn’t to further his basketball resume.

  • Michael

    all about the benjamins

  • Justin

    Jukai: I guess you didn’t read what I wrote. You people are making it sound like money was the main factor when, in fact, it wasn’t. It was ONE factor but not nearly the same situation as Amare Stoudamire for example. PURELY about the money there. At the time Nash signed with the team he thought that they had a shot and last year was proof that they did. I guess he just lied to me in our conversation because you guys know better right? lol

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    But I couldn’t even get Nashs BB Zoom II’s in Australia….now THIS shoe????

  • torobravo

    @The Black Rick Kamla

    Disagree….I’ve had Nash kicks from the last three years and they’re as good as anything else I’ve owned….and they’re often sold out of my size when I’m looking for them…..but thats just where I’m at.

Advertisement