$200 Million Kevin Durant Has a Guaranteed $50 Million Kicking in Courtesy of Nike Once He Retires!
Kevin Durant, with his combination of skill and stardom, has built himself a huge financial empire.
KD has been the beneficiary of his own excellent game for the last decade or so. Slim Reaper is one of the most popular and marketable athletes in the league and has a host of big-money endorsements coming his way.
The Nets star will be presenting in his 15th season with the 15th edition of his signature shoe with Nike. That deal alone ensures that KD earns $280 million over a ten-year span, far more than many players make throughout their careers.
Also read: A suspicious reporter asked Kevin Durant the strangest question and he gives the most brilliant answer imaginable
With the likes of New Balance and Puma aggressively targeting superstars, endorsement deals are getting crazier by the day. The Nike, Adidas and Jordan brands have a harder time controlling the market.
Kevin Durant and Nike have had a longstanding partnership. While no deal is a sure thing today, there could be an incentive to ensure that KD won’t pass up Nike…
What’s the big incentive Nike promises Kevin Durant that seems hard to match?
Kevin Durant, now 34, is entering his 15th season. While his Achilles tendon injury may be a thing of the past, KD isn’t getting any younger or any healthier, regardless.
With his current contract running through 2024, possibly the last mega payday of his career, an incentive to start Retirement it would go a long way to please the star, apparently.
KD earns $50 million a year in endorsements.
His original deal with Nike was for 10 years at $280 million with a $50 million retirement package.
Royalties from his signature KD shoe are enough to establish his family for generations. pic.twitter.com/EBnkAhy23p
— Andrew Petcash (@AndrewPetcash) March 3, 2022
And that is exactly what Nike has done. The sportswear giant has a $50 million bonus in its deal with KD, which is guaranteed to the star when he retires from the league.
No ordinary superstar can claim that amount of money as part of their retirement.
Nike believed and invested in KD from the start and seems to have reaped the rewards for the same.
Have there been any other notable retirement clauses in the NBA?
A famous retirement clause comes to mind: Allen Iverson’s deal with Reebok.
However, The Answer’s takedown clause comes with a caveat. That was more of a grand gesture from Reebok to save the man from bankruptcy than an incentive to keep him with them.
Reebok and AI have an agreement as part of which the former Sixers superstar will receive a one-time payment of $32 million on his 55th birthday. This grew out of AI’s well-documented financial struggles as a means of financially securing its prized asset.
Kevin Durant, with his multitude of endorsements, is unlikely to face such a situation. But should he need it, it’s safe to say Nike’s $50 million will serve him well.
Also read: Kevin Durant lost $15,000 of a staggering $200 million worth after throwing f-bombs
