Nikola Jokic breaks silence on ditching Nike for Chinese sneaker brand 361

Nikola Jokic is the reigning NBA MVP after leading the Nuggets to the championshio last season.

Nikola Jokic breaks silence on ditching Nike for Chinese sneaker brand 361

Nikola Jokic and new signature shoes with 361 degrees (via Open Source/X)

Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets center and superstar MVP, recently signed a signature shoe deal with the Chinese footwear brand 361° after severing ties with the American company, Nike, as reported by Nick DePaula. This significant move now makes the Joker the global face of the sports footwear brand.

Throughout his NBA career, Jokic adorned shoes crafted by Nike, specifically favoring the Nike Zoom GT over the last eight seasons. In a notable transition, he has now aligned himself with the Chinese footwear brand 361°, following the footsteps of his teammate Aaron Gordon, who joined the brand in 2020. The debut of Jokic’s new shoes occurred during the Nuggets’ 113-104 victory against the Toronto Raptors.

YouTube video

Publicly disclosing his decision, the Serb, Nikola Jokic, shed light on why he chose to part ways with Nike and sign with a relatively unknown Chinese footwear brand.

FS Video
I'm excited to announce my partnership with 361° and join another team of champions. The 361° team's passion and commitment to performance and competition spoke to me. We've already been putting the time and work together to bring my first signature shoe to life. It's been a fun journey. Together, we're going to bring more passion to the game in ways people have never seen and share it with people worldwide. The Deal Is Done.
Nikola Jokic via Viaggio Sport

While the financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, Nikola Jokic’s choice to part ways with the American giants has stirred fans’ emotions. This departure from Nike echoes a trend where superstar basketball players like Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors and Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks have previously opted for rival brands, such as Under Armour and the Chinese brand ANTA, respectively.

Jokic among international stars in KIA MVP leaderboard

The top 5 KIA MVP leaderboard contains five non-US internationals, showing the dominance of international players in the NBA. The last time a US-born player won the NBA MVP was in the 2017-18 season, James Harden.

Jokic and Embiid
Embiid(right) and Jokic(left) (via The Philadelphia Enquirer)

The top five players consist of Joel Embid from the Philadelphia 76ers, followed by Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. Next in line is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks rounding up the prestigious list.

Jayson Tatum, from the Boston Celtics, clinches a spot in the top ten. Tyrese Haliburton, a standout from the Indiana Pacers, and Kevin Durant, who represents the Phoenix Suns, further solidify the impressive roster. Additionally, the list includes Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers and Anthony Edwards from the Minnesota Timberwolves, rounding out the top echelon.

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