The Reason Why Legends Like Simone Biles and Kobe Bryant Cut Ties With 33 Billion Dollar Sports Giant

In showcasing dedication to their sport, Simone Biles and Kobe Bryant are professionals that athletes follow. They stayed on top of their game for years and had a telling influence on most young prodigies. Sadly, Bryant passed away two years back in a tragic helicopter accident. However, the reasons for leaving their star brand, Nike, in close weeks, raised a few eyebrows. 

While the duo cut ties with the company, fans wondered about the root cause of the problem. Hence, here are the critical reasons for their resignation from the company. 

Kobe Bryant cut ties with Nike

When Kobe Bryant’s estate left the company, netizens took over the internet and posted their reactions to the subject. Like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant had a collection of incredible shoes that the billion-dollar company released. But when his contract expired in April 2013, it ended a long association between two huge names on the planet. After leaving Adidas in the early 2000s, Kobe sought a home with Nike, contributing enormously to their success. 

The demand for his merchandise always stood at an astonishing rate and left some people with nothing. Vanessa Bryant stepped in to create a change and wanted to honor her husband most grandly. She wished every Kobe fan to have his memorabilia, while Nike wanted to keep the exclusivity of his merchandise. Thus, it became an enormous problem for the company as they kept incurring losses. 

READ MORE– Nike Was Unwilling to Give Kobe Bryant Signature Line the Same Treatment as LeBron James and Michael Jordan

Having one global athlete not renew his contract might cause problems. But facing two of them quitting in two weeks? Now, this left a lot of questions unanswered. 

Simone Biles joins Athleta

Since Bryant exited the company, they had to deal with problems related to sales. So when Biles joined hands with Athleta, a smaller brand compared to Nike. It came as a surprise. But Biles preferred not to speak negatively about Nike after her exit. “I felt like it wasn’t just about my achievements, it’s what I stood for and how they were going to help me use my voice and also be a voice for females and kids,” mentioned Biles. 

Although leaving the company was unexpected, it probably would be because they did not have ideas to add Biles’ branding. If Nike had figured out a way, they could have earned millions. Biles is a respected athlete all around the world. Probably, Nike can mend up their relationships with athletes while focusing lesser on its brand itself.

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