$800 Million Away From Billionaire Status, Stephen Curry’s NIL Move Mirrors Michael Jordan’s Business Plan

Michael Jordan and LeBron James, the first two individuals from the NBA fraternity to reach billionaire status, generate a significant chunk of their net worth from their lucrative sneaker deals. Similarly to them, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry also has a partnership with a sneaker brand: Under Armour. While it has not replicated the same amount of success as the Jordan Brand, Curry’s new business plan may help turn things around.

A few hours ago, it was revealed that Stephen Curry’s ‘Under Armour’ brand has signed on USC star player MiLaysia Fulwiley as part of a multiyear NIL deal. While many collegiate players are usually seen signing up with brands like Nike, Adidas, and Reebok, Fulwiley will be the first to associate herself with the four-time NBA champion’s sneakers. Renowned sports reporter Shams Charania recently discussed this during a ‘Shams Scoops’ segment.

“This is an interesting wrinkle to me: Stephen Curry is the only active player that’s signing pro and collegiate athletes to contracts under his own brand” Charania highlighted during his segment. “Along with Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand, Stephen Curry is doing something very unique at Curry brand,” said Charania.

The Air Jordan brand has reportedly been using collegiate sponsorships since 1997. Furthermore, their sights are not just limited to basketball, as the brand has also been the sole equipment provider for the Michigan Wolverines college football team since 2016. Thanks to such effective strategies, the Jordan brand reportedly generated over $5 billion in sales just last year, with a significant chunk of it being used to add to the six-time NBA champion’s net worth.

Stephen Curry’s net worth currently stands at $160 million. By following in the Chicago Bulls legend’s shoe plan, the player may be looking to use other basketball athletes to effectively market his brand, increase its sales, and thereby come a little closer to reaching billionaire status.

Stephen Curry describes signing up with Fulwiley as a “special opportunity”

According to a statement by PR Newswire, MiLaysia will “wear Curry Brand footwear on the court throughout the remainder of her college career” at South Carolina. At the same time, she will be “a brand ambassador, expanding the Curry Brand’s reach and commitment to change the game for good” off the court. The same statement also highlighted the NBA player sharing his excitement over the finalization of this deal.

“When it comes to the ability to change the game for good, nobody can speak to that more than MiLaysia,” said Stephen Curry. “She was a part of Curry Camp, is a Team Curry alumni, and is currently playing at an Under Armour school, so there are just so many great tie-ins to the Under Armour family, and partnering with her and Curry Brand is such a special opportunity”.

Similarly to Shaquille O’Neal and Angel Reese, Stephen Curry and MiLaysia Fulwiley have shared somewhat of a mentor-mentee relationship. The same was highlighted during an interview in 2022, when the collegiate player stated that it is “always good to have a mentor like Steph Curry.” Therefore, it makes sense that the Warriors star chose to take on his prodigy in his supposed new plan to take Under Armour to a new level.

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