It’s all fun and games when it comes to the sneaker industry until all comes crashing down in the blink of an eye. One wrong move, or comment, and you’re down. What are we talking about? Well, seems like brands haven’t yet had their fill of suspending partnerships. Adidas kicked Kanye out, Gap followed suit, and now it’s time for Nike to do the pleasure of cutting its ties with partners. Nike and Kyrie are breaking off their long-lasting relationship. So, let’s find out what happened for Nike to take such a step.
Nike And Kyrie History
Nike and Kyrie go way back. Kyrie Irving first signed his partnership with the Swoosh in 2011. It took three years for their first pair of sneakers to hit the market. Kyrie’s sneaker line maintained a signature style throughout, with Zoom Air-cushioning as a staple of his collection. However, Nike Kyrie Low and Nike Flytrap collections took on different designs and materials, promoting innovation and creativity. What WAS special about this collab is that it was one of the most affordable in the industry, compared to other basketball collaborations. Kyrie also used this partnership to deliver various messages to the public and honor people as well. For example, he released Nike N7 to honor Native American communities.
Nike And Kyrie: The End
Earlier this month news hit the sneaker community of Nike and Kyrie ending their partnerships. Sadly, it wasn’t on good terms. So, Nike and Kyrie had a fallout would be more accurate. And the most accurate would be us telling you all that Nike suspended Kyrie… Effective immediately! And here we thought Adidas was the only one that got no chill. The reason Nike did that is the exact same reason the Three Stripes suspended Ye. And that is posting antisemitic content.
In early October, Brooklyn Nets’ guard shared an antisemitic documentary on Twitter. That documentary included “conspiracy theories” about Jews as well as denial of the Holocaust. A couple of days later, Irving seemed adamant to defend his right to post whatever he wants on the platform. Which raged some people up as they stressed the idea of suspending him from Nike and his team. Not a while later, the Nets did suspend him for at least five games. The Swoosh decided to let go of Kyrie as well a day after he publicly apologized in an Instagram post.
What Happens Now?
If you’ve been keeping up with all Nike and Kyrie drops you’d know there were plans for a Kyrie 8 release. But after this fallout, Nike decided against releasing these sneakers. But you know what? We don’t think Kyrie felt that loss oh so deeply. He literally despised this collection and even called the shoe trash. He also said that the Swoosh was dropping it without his Okay!
And so it seems there’s no going back on such decisions. But you all haven’t heard the most mindblowing part yet. But for Kyrie to return to his team, the Nets delivered Irving six things he must do. And wait till you hear of these terms… no words can describe the bizarre level this situation has arrived at. You can check these conditions out above, but we must point a specific one out. Kyrie has to undergo antisemitic training. Don’t forget about that sensitivity training as well. Like what exactly is that?!
Now let’s go back to sneakers. If any of you sneakerheads have collected Nike and Kyrie sneakers in the past, treat them the way you did Yeezys. Let them get the rest they need for a while among your shoe collection. Because as you may know, when a partnership ends, sneaker resale values increase as time passes by. Therefore, what happened to Air Yeezys might be the fate of Kyrie’s Nike as well!
