Kevin Durant has been one of the most popular representatives to dawn Nike merch for the longest time. In their 17-year collab, 17 different sets of KDs have been released and made available to the public. However, this historic partnership recently came close to being torn apart after a simple advertising snub that worried the community. However, despite his initial social media bound reaction, the Slim Reaper has indirectly clarified his stance and confirmed to have looked beyond the lapse before the Olympics by Nike.

Kevin Durant, accompanied by Anthony Edwards, was in a panel discussion briefly talking about athletes’ fashion. Ant highlighted how his sponsorship with Adidas allows him to get free clothes without having to spend any money. The same goes for Kevin Durant, who said at the Fanatics Fest 2024, “I’m usually in hoop gear though, man. (I’m a) Nike athlete, and they send me a lot of nice stuff, so I stay in Nike most of the time.”

The 4x Olympic Gold medalist’s comment about staying on with Nike came right after the apparel brand almost gave him a reason to leave. Back in July, just as the Team USA squad prepared to head to Paris, Nike supported them via a themed advertisement. With an assortment of star athletes like LeBron James, Serena Williams, and Sha’Carri Richardson being featured, and veteran actor William Dafoe narrating, the ad paid tribute to the Team USA squad’s hard work and dedication with the line, “Winning Isn’t for Everyone.”

However, there was no sign of Kevin Durant! And it certainly raised some eyebrows, including that of the NBA legend.

Taking to his official Instagram account, Kevin Durant shared a series of stories, raising the question, “@nike tell me, Am I a bad person?????” Fortunately, the brand was on its toes and apologized uniquely. They released a separate ad campaign specifically to honor KD, becoming the all-time highest scorer in USA basketball history in the Olympics.

Narrated by Deion Sanders, it referenced Kevin’s ‘Grim Reaper’ nickname, stating “There’s a Reaper every four years. Your time runs out. You might forget your debt but he’s ready to collect.”

Apart from the free merchandise, Kevin Durant has also made over $250 million from the extension deal he signed back in 2014. The brand has shown over the years just how much they value the veteran, recently re-releasing a version of the hyped KD 4 and launching the Nike KD 17 “USA” to celebrate the Slim Reaper’s stint at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Because of this, and his desire to remain a ‘lifelong athlete’, there is no chance that the player would be looking to leave.

Kevin Durant wanted to be “with Nike for life” much before signing his pivotal deal!

A player’s retirement from the NBA does not necessarily mean that Nike will cut ties with them. After all, even today, Michael Jordan’s iconic ‘Air Jordan’ line generates huge income for the brand, while Kobe Bryant’s ‘AD Line’ helps fans reminisce about the legacy of the Black Mamba. This legacy was something that Kevin Durant envisioned for himself as well.

Back in 2021, the veteran appeared on a segment of Boardroom’s ‘The Sneaker Game.’ and discussed what his future with Nike would look like. Durant stated, “I want to not have my own building, but being with Nike for life and releasing shoes for as long as people want them. I feel as though I have a few shoes that can last. I feel that my brand, and who I am as a player is pretty solidified in this sport.”

It just took two more years for Kevin Durant’s desire to become a reality. In April 2023, the 2-time NBA Champion became the third NBA athlete, after Michael Jordan and LeBron James, to sign on to a lifetime contract. With shoes and apparel continuing to be created under his name, the player’s legacy will not be forgotten amongst sports enthusiasts for years to come.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.