Thanks to Curry’s sneaker line, Under Armour’s footwear sales in the fourth quarter of 2015 skyrocketed 95% to $167 million, up from $86 million in the prior year. Market Watch reported that during the quarter, the company’s overall revenue rose 31% to $1.17 billion compared with $895 million in 2014, while profits were up 21% to $106 million from $88 million.
Nike also wasn’t interested in giving Steph a summer basketball camp, something that was important to him and had been extended to other young stars signed to the brand like Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis.
Dell also notes that Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Durant were Nike’s main guys; Steph would’ve been in the second tier of athletes. That means no signature shoe.
Steph also shared an adorable story about how his daughter Riley – just one-years-old at the time- helped him make the decision.
At this point, Riley is little over 1 year old. She is presented with a Nike sneaker, an Adidas sneaker and an Under Armour sneaker. She picks up “shoe one,” a Nike. “Threw it over her shoulder,” Curry says. “She picked up shoe two, threw it over her shoulder. She picked up the third shoe, walked over and handed it to me.” It was the Under Armour Anatomix Spawn. “So I knew right then,” Curry says, smiling.
Nike still had the opportunity to retain Steph despite his feelings but they declined to match a deal worth less than $4 million a year. Curry’s potential worth to Under Armour is now placed at more than $14 billion.
Sometimes the gambler loses.
photo via Footlocker
