If Nike lands Stephen Curry everyone else is cooked…
How often do you really get 2nd chances in life?
Nike can actually get it right this time 13 years later by signing Stephen Curry. Yes….Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry 4X NBA Champion, 2X MVP, the greatest shooter to ever live. Your probably wondering why they didn’t land him the first time around. Lets turn back the clock to 2013 when Nike had a generational fumble. So in 2013 Nike setup a meeting with a young 24 year old unproven guard named Stephen Curry. At this time he showed flashes of huge potential but ankle injuries were a huge concern. There was a man named Nico Harrison who lead the charge on Nike’s pitch to Curry. Nico Harrison was Vice President of North American Basketball Operations for Nike in 2013. Everybody knows Nico Harrison today as the guy who gave up Superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers for what seemed like a bag of chips and a coke the ultimate swindle by the Los Angeles Lakers. A puzzling move that left the NBA world in a state of confusion. Of course the Dallas Mavericks ended up landing the number #1 pick in the draft and landing a generational prospect in Cooper Flagg shortly after.
So when Nico Harrison held this meeting in 2013 with Stephen Curry in Oakland his father Dell Curry was also there too. Not only did he mis pronounce his name as (Stephon) he had picture of Kevin Durant on the intro slide as well adding insult to injury. This basically let Curry know that he was of low priority and completely disrespected. I mean its like Nico just made the powerpoint last minute which turned out costly for Nike. No matter what was said after was pointless. Stephen Curry ending up signing with Under Armour and the rest history. Fast Forward to 2026, 37 year old Stephen Curry is the biggest sneaker free agent on the market. During Stephen Curry’s sneaker free agency he has worn so many classic nike silhouettes from Kobes, Foamposites, and even Jordans. If Nike is able to land Stephen Curry now it is equivalent to Thanos getting the last infinity stone. Stephen Curry has global reach all he truly needs is the right brand behind him and thats Nike. Iconic athletes like Jordan, Kobe, Lebron, and Kevin Durant have there own signature shoe line cementing their legacy. What would be more iconic than to see the swoosh on the side of the Curry 1’s.
Stephen Curry doesn’t need Nike to validate his greatness. His resume already lives in stone. Nike needs Stephen Curry.
For a brand built on recognizing greatness before the world catches up, missing the greatest shooter ever and watching him redefine basketball without you cuts deeper than any lost endorsement deal. This isn’t just about sneakers. It’s about legacy, foresight, and whether the most powerful brand in sports still knows how to bet on the future instead of reacting to it.
Nike once fumbled history. Now history has circled back. Second chances don’t come often. And legends don’t come twice!
