Chris Borland, football culture, and Ray Flanagan and the Authorities… While We’re Waiting
March 20, 2015
Corey Kluber graces cover of Popular Mechanics magazine
March 20, 2015Whether in the bright lights of Miami or more industrial feel of Cleveland, one thing remains consistent: Lebron James’ shoe continues to dominate the rest of the NBA in terms of sales. For the second consecutive year, James has had the NBA’s best selling shoe, according to SportScanInfo.
James’ signature shoe, led by Nike’s LeBron 12, racked up an incredible $340 million in 2014, more than $145 million more than the next best seller. In fact, the Lebron 12’s and the rest blew away the competition, making more money than the next three best sellers—combined. These sales mark a 13 percent increase over last year.
You’ll remember that Nike initially signed LeBron James to a seven-year, $90 million deal in 2003, just edging out adidas for his promotional services. They haven’t regretted the relationship since. That contract remains the largest initial contract an endorser has ever handed out to a player and has since been re-upped. James remains the biggest endorsement star in the NBA with estimated earnings of $44 million off the court this year, an estimated $20 million of which comes from Nike alone.
The rest of the top 10 best sellers:
2. Kevin Durant: $195 million (Nike)
3. Kobe Bryant: $105 million (Nike)
4. Chris Paul: $32 million (Jordan Brand)
5. Derrick Rose: $32 million (adidas)
6. Carmelo Anthony: $30 million (Jordan Brand)
7. John Wall: $8 million (adidas)
8. Kyrie Irving: $7 million (Nike)
9. Damian Lilliard: $1.8 million (adidas)
10. Dwight Howard: $1.5 million (adidas)
With his shoe available for just over one week in 2014, Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving still somehow finished eighth in the NBA in best selling shoes. With the release of many more Kyrie 1 colorways since the initial release, Irving’s shoe seems to be doing well in his own right largely fueled by an attractive price point and continued exposure on national television.
Nike and its Jordan Brand subsidiary commanded 95.5% of the $4.2 billion basketball shoe market last year. It would take a meteoric rise, but if early sales are any indication, two members of the Cleveland Cavaliers could very well have two of the best-selling shoes come this time next year.
6 Comments
Sneaker sales still boggle my mind. Maybe because I’ve never bought an athlete’s “shoe”, but the idea that something like close to 2 *million* people bought the same model shoe is crazy to me, considering that it’s at least what, the 12th such shoe he’s had? Crazy.
Josh how does Jordan’s signature shoe compare right now to the LeBron 12 in annual sales revenue?
Over the last several years the Sneaker Craze has reached fever pitches.
Retro colorways being reintroduced, secondary market explosions, it’s seriously something to see.
When you say signature shoe, do you mean the retros released in the same year or how does this compare to Jordan back in the day?
Sales of Nike’s Jordan Brand rose 17% last year to $2.6 billion. Jordan market share was 58% in 2014, which means if Nike as a whole owned 95 percent, that non-Jordan shoes (LeBrons) were the other 37%. Retro Js move at incredible rates and there are soooo many of them so it’s not exactly apples and apples, but Jordans continue to dominate decades after his retirement. I’m pretty sure they sold $80 million worth of “Legend Blue” XIs alone.
Will be interesting to see what Nike does with LeBrons line now that his old shoes (from VI on) are still bought and sold in the secondary market.
It’s a huge industry. Niche, for sure, but huge nonetheless.
My initial wonder was on the Jordan retros being released today. How much of the market they were claiming versus LeBron’s.
And now you have me wondering on how they would have compared on an equal timeline taking out inflation….