Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant could get a richer deal with an emerging sportswear company as his seven-year, $60 million deal with Nike set to expire soon, a source close to situation reported on Wednesday.
Durant, who captured his first ever NBA Most Valuable Player Award after averaging 32 points, 5.5 assists and 7.4 rebounds last season with the Thunder, is reportedly on the verge of signing a deal with Under Armour that could pay as much as $30 million per year.
"According to a person familiar with negotiations, Durant, whose seven-year, $60 million deal with Nike is expiring, could earn as much as $30 million annually if he signs with Under Armour Inc., whose headquarters are in Durant's home state of Maryland," New York Daily News writer Frank Isola reported.
Nike, which boasts a roster of All-Star endorsers like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, is looking to negotiate another deal with Durant's camp, while rival company Adidas is also in the mix as well.
The 25-year old Durant said in an interview with ESPN last week that he would let his staff do the work, as he tries to prepare for another tough grind with team USA for the World Cup of Basketball in Spain starting late August.
"I'm just going to let my team be the ones who handle that behind the scenes, I guess," Durant told ESPN last week. "When you look at stuff like that, it's great problems to have because people want you for what you know and do on the basketball court, the work you put in, so I'm going to continue to put my work in, let them focus on that on the other end, and we'll come together at some point."
According to Isola, a potential deal between Durant and Under Armour could bode well not only for the Washington Wizards, but also for the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks in their ambition to get the small forward when he becomes an unrestricted free-agent in the summer of 2016.
"A deal with Under Armour could also be beneficial to the Washington Wizards, one of several teams, including the Knicks and Nets, putting themselves in position financially to make a run at Durant in two summers," Isola stated.
The Wizards have been rumoured as a potential destination for Durant, who was born and raised in the Washington DC area. The team already has two outstanding youngsters in John Wall and Bradley Beal and could be an even more attractive destination if they emerge as a title contender for the next two seasons.
On the other hand, the Knicks have former Durant's teammate and current head coach Direk Fisher, while the Nets could reload and offer him an All-Star supporting casts.
For more NBA rumores, read more at Travelers Today
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
