As Stephen Curry signed with Li-Ning on Monday night, it is worth looking back at Giannis Antetokounmpo’s decision to sign with Nike.
In 2024’s episode of the Thanalysis show, Giannis explained his journey of signing with Nike instead of Adidas, who initially offered him €5000.
The Greek Freak admitted he needed that much money at that time, but chose to include his brother on the deal, but Adidas told him that Thanasis will sign on the following week.
“He brought the contract and put it in front of me, and I’m like, ‘OK, great, where is my brother’s?’ And he was like, ‘We’re not going to sign your brother’s today. You’re going to sign yours, and then we’re going to bring your brother in a week to sign his.’ And I was like, ‘Uh uh, no thank you,” Giannis said.
After that, Nike had the similar proposal, but with an inclusion package deal along with Thanasis.
The two-time MVP had emphasized the family first perspective, inspiring his fellow athletes that it is not just all about the money.
“It was my turn to speak and I said that it’s important for me for it to be a family thing,” Antetokounmpo insisted. “When you take me, you take my family, my brother, my mom. And she was like, ‘Yeah, sure, whatever.’ After that, we’ve been with Nike, and she’s been by our side ever since.”
Giannis and Nike started in 2013, and re-signed during late 2017 for a long term deal, and are currently paying him an estimated $9-$10 million annually with performance incentives.
