Kyrie Irving: Nike ends sponsorship deal with Brooklyn Nets guard after social media post
Business Dec 6, 2022 at 13:19
Nike has ended its sponsorship deal with Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving one month after he promoted a documentary which contained anti-Semitic material on social media.
The sportswear giant initially suspended its contract with Irving, who later apologised.
The 30-year-old missed eight games during his suspension from the NBA.
Speaking recently, Nike founder Phil Knight said: “Kyrie stepped over the line. It’s kind of that simple.”
Knight added: “He made some statements that we just can’t abide by, and that’s why we ended the relationship. I was fine with that.”
Seven-time NBA All-Star Irving had partnered with Nike for eight years and, according to Forbes, had an $11m (£9m) contract with the brand as of 2019.
During his suspension, he met NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Jewish community leaders, while he and the Nets pledged to donate $1m (£820,000) to combat “hate and intolerance”.
