The National Basketball Association (NBA) and sports footwear major Nike have announced an eight-year global merchandising and marketing partnership that will make Nike the official oncourt apparel provider beginning with the 2017-18 NBA season.
"This partnership with Nike represents a new paradigm in the structure of our global merchandising business," said NBA commissioner Adam Silver on its website.
"As our exclusive oncourt apparel provider, Nike will be instrumental in our collective efforts to grow the game globally while applying the latest in technology to the design of our uniforms and oncourt products."
Nike has been a global marketing partner of the NBA since 1992 and expands its rights over eight years under the new agreement, where it will become the first NBA apparel partner to have its logo appear on NBA uniforms. Nike will also have the global rights to design and manufacture authentic and Swingman jerseys as well as oncourt warm-ups and shooting shirts.
"We're excited to bring the full power of our global reach, innovation and creativity to partner with the NBA and grow the game in a way only Nike can," said Nike, Inc. president & CEO Mark Parker. "In Nike, Jordan and Converse we have three of the most connected brands in the world, and look forward to making the global growth of the game a successful strategy for both the NBA and Nike."
A marketing partner of the WNBA since its inception in 1997, Nike will now have an expanded presence at WNBA All-Star and other events throughout the season. Also, for the first time, Nike will become a marketing partner of the NBA Development League (NBA D-League), engaging in seasonlong marketing activities with a major presence during the NBA D-League All-Star Game presented by Kumho Tire and the NBA D-League Showcase presented by Samsung.
