Indiana Fever rookie phenom Caitlin Clark made her box-office WNBA playoff debut wearing retro Kobe 5 sneakers.
An average of 1.8 million viewers watched Clark on her Kobe 5s in the Fever’s 93-69 loss in Game 1 Sunday.
One of those who tuned in is NBA agent and marketer Nate Jones of Goodwin Sports, who called out Nike for failing to capitalize on the Clark hype.
“Putting her in Kobe retros is emblematic of recent Nike disconnects and fumbles,” Jones tweeted. “Yes, I know she likes wearing Kobes, but she is a lightning-in-a-bottle breakout star that you hope to have as big or a bigger [business] than Kobe when it’s all done. Signature should have been fastracked.”
Clark reportedly signed an eight-year deal with Nike worth $28 million, which includes a signature line, after she became the No. 1 pick in the last WNBA draft.
Putting her in Kobe retros is emblematic of recent Nike disconnects and fumbles. Yes, I know she likes wearing Kobes, but she is a lightning in a bottle breakout star that you hope to have as big or a bigger biz than Kobe when it’s all done. Signature should have been fastracked https://t.co/09P7bPJMnC
— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) September 22, 2024
Jones acknowledged that it takes time to develop a signature line.
“But they knew what they had on their hands over a year ago,” Jones added. “At a minimum, she should’ve had her own Statement Shoe platform as soon as she hit the [WNBA]. I don’t think there are plans to have any Caitlin signature next year either, which is just insane.”
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22).
Jones noted that Clark’s fellow Nike athlete, Sabrina Ionescu of New York Liberty, already has two signature shoes since she signed with the sneaker giant in 2020.
“Sabrina’s line is touching way more people already and she’s not close to as known or popular,” Jones tweeted.
But it also took Nike three years before they launched Sabrina 1.
Jones wishes Nike could do it faster with Clark.
