Kevin Durant Offered Mammoth Under Armour Deal
Jay Z and Roc Nation Sports are definitely maximizing Kevin Durant's earning potential.
According to ESPN, Roc Nation informed Nike on Wednesday that KD, the NBA's reigning MVP, has a deal on the table with Under Armour worth between $265 million and $285 million over 10 years. The deal reportedly also includes the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar getting Under Armour stock and a community center built in his mother's name.
The ESPN report also points out that Nike, which Durant is currently signed to, has the right to match Under Armour's offer due to the conditions of its original contract with KD. Considering that Nike cashed in on $175 million in retail relating to Durant last season alone, it's likely that the company will make an attractive offer to keep him down with the swoosh.
Recent reports alleged that Durant might have withdrawn from Team USA and the FIBA World Cup tournament this summer at the urging of Roc Nation Sports to make sure the superstar didn't suffer an injury that would jeopardize the Under Armour deal.
If Durant decides to accept the mammoth offer from the interlocking U and A, it will only fuel rumors that the Washington D.C. native will flee Oklahoma City to play for his hometown Washington Wizards once he becomes a free agent during the summer of 2016. Under Armour is located in Baltimore, Md., and KD would seemingly be able to do more with the brand if located closer to it.
In addition, the Wizards did make the shrewd hire of David Adkins as their player development assistant last month. Adkins was an assistant coach at Montrose Christian in Maryland, where he helped coach a teenage Durant.
Accepting the Under Armour deal would spell the largest endorsement the brand has ever made. But the ball is in Nike's court right now. What will they do with it?
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(Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
