Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers is currently endorsed by a band from Boston, United States New Balance. However, this has not always been the case for the shooting guard of the Clippers. When Leonard was drafted he signed up with Nike and was making less than $500,000 a year. Furthermore, Nike’s Subsidiary the Jordan Brand was close to completing a four-year deal that would see him make more than 20 million dollars.
Things between the two parties weren’t smooth sailing, as the negotiations eventually broke down, one of the causes was that Jordan Brand didn’t pay any of its athletes more than $10 million USD, but importantly Leonard’s representatives felt that the offer was not the one which would stamp him as one of the top players in the league, as he had been nominated for the Most Valuable Player as well as the Defensive player of the year.
Kawhi Leonard. Named to the @NBA‘s 75th Anniversary Team.
Never needed the hype. Never played by someone else’s rules. One of the greatest ever. He did it his way 🤫 @newbalance #WeGotNow pic.twitter.com/KXhzZhFN0O
— New Balance Basketball (@newbalancehoops) October 22, 2021
Without wasting any time New Balance entered the scene and was willing to offer a significant sum of money roughly more than $5 million per season, this, in turn, would put 5x All-Star in the top 15 shoe endorsement deals in the NBA. Kawhi has a signature shoe and the latest New Balance Kawhi 2 is being released this year in mid-July.
New Balance and Kawhi Leonard unveil the Kawhi II “New Money” set to release March 19 💸 pic.twitter.com/qiUBx2lOjr
— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) February 18, 2022
jack Harlow and kawhi leonard for new balance pic.twitter.com/7eahSOXare
— best of jack harlow (@misssionaryjack) May 18, 2022
I love New Balance shoes, but I’m forever gonna have to still rock with my Adidas athletic wear! Ijs! 💯
— Biggsneeky (@biggsneeky) March 7, 2021
Hard Pass
— Kenny Smith (@ksmizzle_3000) May 6, 2019
I did it! I will not forget, but I dId forgive No. 2 for quitting on my Spurs, and I am now SAYING HIS NAME AND WEARING HIS NEW SIGNATURE NEW BALANCE SNEAKER THAT DROPPED TODAY. What it do, Kawhi? You won me back over. #BestPlayerOnThePlanet #DripBayless pic.twitter.com/nMpWKOpLog
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 31, 2019
Damn those Kyries are clean… I mean Kawhis
— Jayden Arroyo (@ArroyoJayden) February 18, 2022
— Rei Estêvão (@piratesnakes) February 10, 2022
Currently, the Clippers guard is the biggest athlete in New Balance since James Worthy. Kawhi Leonard is the face of New Balance among other noticeable athletes. The Clippers star is estimated to be making 5.5 million dollars just from the endorsement deal with NB.
NBA players currently signed with New Balance
New Balance besides having the Clippers superstar has other basketball athletes currently playing in the NBA. Some of the popular players to don the New Balance shoes are the Chicago Bulls Guard Zach Lavine, Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, Indiana Pacers Forward Aaron Nesmith, Denver Nuggets Guard Jamal Murray, and Oklahoma City Thunders guard DDariusBazley.
New Balance has recently released a video with the players stated above for a commercial of a new shoe released New Balance TWO WXY v3, in six colorways which were open for the public to purchase from 4th November for $120 a pair.
Report: New Balance could show interest in Kyrie Irving https://t.co/B7I82y8v1c
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) December 9, 2022
There is a hot rumor circling around who will be the next shoe brand to endorse Kyrie Irving, after what seems to be a fallout with Nike, after the Nets star removed the Nike Swoosh logo, New Balance are one of the front runners to get the Signature of Uncle Drew and if it goes through New Balance will be getting a top player in the league.
