Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant has signed a lifetime contract with sportswear giant Nike.
He has followed in the footsteps of NBA legends Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the only basketball players to have lifetime deals.
The 34-year-old has been with Nike since he made his NBA debut in 2007 — the season he won the Rookie of the Year award — and has released 15 different pairs of basketball sneakers.
‘When I first signed with Nike, I couldn’t have dreamed of how far we’d go in this partnership. We’ve done amazing work creatively and philanthropically,’ Durant, a twice NBA champion and 13-time All Star, said in a statement via Boardroom.
‘We’ve traveled the world together and built a business that will now last forever. I’m excited for the future and honored to be in rare company with this deal.’
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant has signed a ‘lifetime contract’ with sportswear giant Nike
The 34-year-old has been with Nike since he made his NBA debut 16 years ago
He has followed in the footsteps of Michael Jordan and LeBron James (right) with type of deal
Nike has supported Durant’s involvement in grassroots basketball by helping refurbish courts in communities across the world through the Durant Family Foundation.
‘As one of the best basketball players in the world, Kevin Durant has been an important part of the Nike family for the past 16 years,’ Nike’s executive vice president of global sports marketing John Slusher said.
‘We look forward to continuing to serve the next generation of athletes together.’
Durant’s Suns are through to the Western Conference semifinals where they will play the Denver Nuggets.
Durant had his trade request granted by the Brooklyn Nets when they traded him to Phoenix for a blockbuster package including Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and picks on February 9.
