Fred Kerley’s bronze medal at the Paris Olympics should be the pinnacle of his career—a moment to bask in the glory of a season-best 9.81 seconds that landed him on the podium alongside gold medalist Noah Lyles. Together, they shattered a 20-year drought for Team USA in the 100m, a feat that should have him on top of the world. But beneath the triumph, Kerley’s heart is restless.

Long before his Paris victory, Kerley found himself at the center of a sponsor controversy that left him hungry for more. Now, as he watches LeBron James shine in a blockbuster endorsement deal, that hunger grows into a craving for something bigger—something beyond the track. Unlike many, Kerley doesn’t keep his ambitions under wraps. He’s made it clear: he’s not just chasing speed; he’s chasing the spotlight, and he’s not afraid to say it.

Kerley’s covetous wish for some LeBron-style swag

Taking to X, Kerley reacted to LeBron James’ newest campaign with Lobos 1707 Tequila. Besides James, it also features American singer and actress Victoria Justice. Commenting on the 1:38s long ad, Kerley writes, “I need that sponsor” suggesting his earnest desire. Indeed, the ad showcasing a poker game and a decked-up James truly gives a premium feel and is too hard to pass without commenting. Especially, as the NBA veteran is seen pulling off the ‘James Bond’ signature style, when he introduces himself as, “James, Lebron James!”

For Fred Kerley, his recent comments come from a place of personal experience and hard-won lessons. The past few months have been a whirlwind of twists in his sponsorship journey, culminating in a surprising partnership just before the Paris Olympics. Kerley joined forces with Kim Kardashian’s loungewear and undergarment brand, SKIMS, becoming one of the prominent faces in a campaign that also featured stars like Gabby Thomas, Suni Lee, Jessica Long, and Caeleb Dressel.

This collaboration was groundbreaking for Kardashian’s brand. Previously, at the Tokyo and Beijing Winter Olympics, SKIMS focused exclusively on womenswear. But for the Paris Olympics, the brand expanded into menswear, and Kerley was front and center, playing a key role in this new chapter. The partnership brought a sense of calm to the storm that had been brewing around Kerley’s sponsorship saga, quelling some of the controversy that had surrounded him.

But what exactly led to this point? What fires had Kerley been navigating before aligning with SKIMS? Here’s a quick recap of the journey that brought him to this pivotal moment.

Fred Kerley’s sponsors withdrew on a bitter note

The 2022 World Champion had hoped to shine at the NYC Grand Prix, 2024, with his blistering performance. However, he drew the spotlight on him for an astonishing reason. Having signed with ASICS in February 2023, Kerley was ideally expected to wear the shoes custom-made for him by his sponsor. However, what was potentially a grave violation, Kerley showed up wearing PUMA spikes, which landed him in deep water.

Apparently, Kerley had forgotten his sponsor footwear at the airport and had shown up on the tracks in competitor spikes. And, the move was not well-received by the brand, which declared that the US sprinter and they had “mutually parted ways one year into the sponsorship.” This marked the end of Kerley’s second shoe sponsorship, for he had earlier signed with Nike. But that ended when his 2022 contract expired and Kerley announced in February that he was going the ASICS way.

Well, the track star’s net worth was slated at a whopping $5 million, thanks to his previous sponsors. However, he entered the Olympic trials without a shoe sponsor and has yet to partner up with one. Moreover, despite there being talks that Puma might rope him in after he showed up in their spikes at the NYC Prix, there had been no such initiative, leaving him high and dry. And now, with his reaction to LeBron James’ ad, Fred Kerley appears to be openly vouching for a sponsor. What do you think of his reaction? Let us know below.