Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan just earned a huge new contract from Nike that will keep him with the brand for years to come.
Apparently, according to reports, he is also considered to be the face of Kobe Bryant’s specific line of products.
Fresh off making All-NBA second team, Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan is signing a new four-year deal with Nike that keeps him as the featured face of Kobe Bryant’s iconic line, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium
It’s an awesome deal for DeMar, who gets to enjoy a sweet payday and some increased publicity. Vanessa Bryant, however, doesn’t seem too thrilled that DeRozan has seemingly taken over as the featured rep of her late husband’s iconic brand.
In a series of now-deleted Instagram comments, she fought back against the narrative with DeRozan and insisted that ‘nobody’ is currently the face of Bryant’s sneaker line.
“False. He is not the face of Kobe’s line,” she posted on IG. “No one is… LOVE that he’s a Kobe supporter but that caption is false. It’s misinformation. Only Kobe is the face of his line. If that changes in the future, then I’m sure Nike and I will release a statement announcing it.”
Vanessa has been very protective of her husband’s legacy since his passing. And she should be.
Not only was he one of the greatest basketball players ever, but his passion, work ethic, and strong moral compass made him an example for countless fans around the globe. Kobe was more than a ball player, he was a role model, a family man, and a wise/caring person who was always giving back to the community.
His Nike line is just one of the many things he left behind, and Vanessa is determined to keep her husband’s name and face front and center rather than allowing it to fade into the background.
She set the record straight, even if she later deleted the comments.
