Nike's failure to retain Steph Curry is a heavily debated topic in sneaker history, though Nico Harrison's involvement in losing him has been unfairly overstated.
Nico Harrison was a prominent basketball figure long before the Luka Doncic trade, thanks to his strong relationships with NBA stars and his prior role as Nike's VP of North American Basketball Operations.
However, Harrison has often been unfairly linked to one of Nike's most notorious mistakes: losing Steph Curry to Under Armour in 2013.
Let's unpack the story of how Curry slipped away from Nike.
The Steph Curry Sneaker Deal Battle
While not yet a superstar, Stephen Curry's breakout 2012–13 season (22.9 PPG, 6.9 APG, and 3.5 3PA on 45%) showed he was destined for greatness.
So, as his first sneaker deal with Nike was about to expire, Curry and his family explored offers from other brands.
Steph Curry in 2023
Steph Curry in 2023
Credit Reuters-Scanpix
Under Armor presented a lucrative deal: $4 million per year, a signature shoe, and the chance to be the brand's face.
Nike's counter was just $2.5 million per year, and they declined to match Under Armour's offer.
But it wasn't just the financial gap that turned Curry away. During the pivotal meeting, a series of mistakes left a lasting negative impression.
The Infamous Nike Meeting With Curry
The infamous meeting took place during the 2013 offseason, right after Steph Curry had played a crucial role in leading the Golden State Warriors to the Western Conference semifinals.
Curry had been a Nike athlete long before 2013, with deep-rooted ties to the brand, including his godfather, Greg Brink, working for Nike. He even wore Nike gear during his breakout 54-point game at Madison Square Garden in 2013.
Steph noted that it felt strange being pitched by a company he had already been with for years, highlighting that some familiar faces were present at the meeting.
Yet, this familiarity didn't translate into commitment. Nike's presentation felt rushed and uninspired, and their failure to offer Curry his signature camp, something they did for Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, added to the sense that he was being undervalued.
The meeting itself, held at the Oakland Marriott, was full of errors.
The Embarrassing Nike Presentation
One of the most notorious moments came when a Nike representative mispronounced Curry's first name as 'Stephon' instead of Stephen.
Even more embarrassingly, a PowerPoint slide still featured Kevin Durant's name, suggesting that the presentation had been hastily repurposed.
Steph's father Dell Curry, who was present, recalled how this mistake led him to mentally check out of the pitch.
Nico Harrison's Role in the Curry–Nike Story
However, new light was shed on this story during the Point Forward podcast, hosted by Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner.
Nico Harrison, the former Nike executive involved in the meeting, stated that although Curry's name was indeed mispronounced, he wasn't the one responsible.
"There is an article out. And the article says I mispronounced his name. It wasn't me. It wasn't me. But they didn't know the other person; they knew me. So, they say I mispronounced his name because it's sexy," Harrison revealed.
Nico Harrison
Nico Harrison
Credit Image - Scanpix
"But I'm like, first of all, I've known this guy forever, like since he was in high school. I used to represent his dad. How am I going to mispronounce his name? I might have called him Seth, but I wasn't going to mispronounce his name," Harrison added.
He also pointed out that if Curry had remained with Nike, his brand could have been 'a monster.'
Curry's Success with Under Armour
Instead, Steph Curry's decision to join Under Armor led to a successful partnership, including a nine-year extension in 2015 and the launch of the Curry Brand in 2020.
Curry's signature line, now on its 12th model, has cemented his status as both a basketball legend and a major marketing force.
This is further highlighted by his iconic nickname, 'Chef Curry,' and the "Night Night" move, both of which are among the most well-known in sports.
Steph Curry doing the "Night Night"
Steph Curry doing the "Night Night"
Credit USA TODAY Sports-SCANPIX
Despite the myths surrounding that infamous meeting, it's important to set the record straight: Nico Harrison did not disrespect Stephen Curry.
His name was unfairly tied to the mistake, but as Harrison clarified, he wasn't the one who mispronounced Curry's name.
The real issue lies in Nike's overall approach to the meeting, which ultimately pushed Curry towards Under Armour.
Vukašin Nedeljković
Vukašin played basketball competitively in his youth, and now contributes to Synergy Sports Technology and Sportradar regarding basketball analysis. He also has experience working as a journalist in Serbia and is passionate about writing basketball articles mainly focused on basketball X's and O's.
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