"I used to represent his dad; how am I going to mispronounce his name?" - Former Nike executive refutes long-held claims about mispronouncing Stephen Curry's name
Given how big Stephen Curry is as an NBA player, one would think he would have a signature shoe with Nike. After all, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the late Kobe Bryant all have signature lines with the footwear giant.
However, Curry swayed from the trend pioneered by Michael Jordan. Instead of signing with Nike, he signed with the smaller Under Armour.
Curry brand sneakers are a large driving factor in Under Armour's growth. But it isn't as if Curry didn't give Nike a chance. As first reported by ESPN's Ethan Sherwood Strauss, Nike lost the greatest shooter of all time because of negligence.
According to the report, a Nike official reportedly mispronounced Stephen Curry's name. Reportedly, the PowerPoint presentation used during the pitch had Kevin Durant's name on it.
Strauss named Nico Harrison as the Nike official running the meeting. However, in an interview on the "Point Forward" podcast, Harrison refuted the claims, stating:
"The article says I mispronounced his name. It wasn't me. It absolutely wasn't me. But they didn't know the other person. They knew me.
"So, they say I mispronounced his name because it's sexy. But I'm like, first of all, I've known this guy forever, like since he was in high school. I used to represent his dad. How am I going to mispronounce his name?"
Harrison also said Curry's business would have been a "monster" had he signed with Nike:
"I might have called him Seth, but I wasn't going to mispronounce his name. So, yeah, Nike made a mistake. In all honesty, if he would have stayed with Nike, his business would be a monster right now. A monster."
Also Checkout:- Stephen Curry's Rings
Despite Harrison's suggestion, many believe that forging a new path for himself has brought Curry a world of good.
The impact of Stephen Curry signing with Under Armour
The competition to recreate the magic Nike unlocked with its Air Jordan line has continued with signature shoes over the decades. Stephen Curry was not the first to buck the trend.
One notable endorsement was Allen Iverson's shoe deal with Reebok.
Also Checkout:- Stephen Curry Wife
Curry Camp ‘22 is back. Next generation of talent in the building but the OG’s gotta get some runs too. Make this week mean something. Let’s go! @24Bazemore @Tuff__Crowd #currybrand
Stay tuned… https://t.co/QqyXCvD7UQ
Also Checkout:- Stephen Curry Parents
Since Curry signed with UA in 2013, several players around the league haven't hesitated to sign with brands other than Nike/Jordan.
James Harden (2015), Damian Lillard (2014), Trae Young and Donovan Mitchell have deals with Adidas. Lillard notably plays in Portland, where the Nike headquarters are situated.
Kawhi Leonard boasts New Balance sneakers, while LaMelo Ball signed a deal with Puma.