Durant likely to wait to hear from Nike for a counter-offer before making decision.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant has reportedly been offered a deal by sports manufacturer Under Armour that is worth between $265m and $285m over 10 years.
According to ESPN, the deal includes stock and other incentives which include a community center built in his mother’s name.
It is understood that Nike have a condition in Durant’s current contract that gives them the right to match the offer, although he can still choose Nike if it doesn’t match but can’t legally choose UA if Nike does.
In addition, it is reported that Nike’s last offer would have given Durant a base and a minimum royalty guarantee that would equal no less than $20m a year.
Should Under Armour win Durant over, it would be the largest sponsorship deal the company has ever committed to, although it would be a surprising move from the 25-year-old given that he pushed hard to sign with Nike ahead of his arrival in the NBA.
At the time, it was suggested that he opted to sign a deal with Nike for $20m less than what Adidas were offering, although his move to Jay Z’s Roc Nation last summer has changed matters as his new agents chase the most lucrative deal possible.
Meanwhile, Under Armour’s work in the community is said to be an impressive part of their vision moving forward, while there is also the additional suggestion that they will have an influence on where Durant decides to play next when he enters free agency in the summer of 2016.
With talk of returning to his native Maryland to play for the Washington Wizards, Durant grew up just 36 miles away from the Under Armour headquarters, and the company have a reputation for spending significantly in the community and involving themselves in local teams and sports stars.
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