Basketball Shoe Free Agent

One of the most popular basketball shoes and recognized overall brands is the Air Jordans created by Nike and sponsored by Michael Jordan. You can make the argument that Michael Jordan laid the foundation for the sneaker community and for shoe companies to go after athletes to promote their products. In 2021, NBA athletes are always showcasing different sneakers pregame, in-game, and post game. Some athletes will even go behind scenes at their house to show their $100,000+ collection of vintage basketball shoes.

Whether you like it or not, basketball shoes have not only become a decision for on-court basketball use but for personal style. Customers will wait in lines to buy new releases of shoes. Sometimes you will have resellers buy shoes and sell them for double or triple the price knowing that someone would actually pay for them.

Derrick Rose

It is always hard to find the next athlete to sponsor a shoe deal. In 2012, Adidas signed Derrick Rose. Rose played for the Chicago Bulls and was one of the best point guards at this time. Unfortunately injuries derailed what could have been a championship run with the team. This is something that shoe companies take risks on. They do not know how an athlete’s body will respond in game and that at any moment everything could end. Since then, Rose has resurrected his career and has learned to adjust his body for the current NBA.

The Free Agent

The next best and available athlete to help sponsor a shoe company is Zach Lavine. He currently plays for the Chicago Bulls and is only 26 years old. Lavine originally signed with Adidas in 2017 but his contract ended in October 2021. He is now free to sign with any shoe company on the market. Out of all the shoe companies, I believe that Zach Lavine should move his chips onto the Nike table.

Why?

Why is Zach Lavine the best influencer to promote a Nike shoe? To start, the NBA is the 2nd most watched sport among GenZ. Depending on resources, this age range for GenZ would be 10 to 24 years old. Remember, Zach Lavine is only 26 years old. He is on the back end of a millennial but close to being categorized as a GenZ. This makes him more relatable to the younger crowd. Another reason Zach Lavine is the best option is because he plays for the Chicago Bulls. In terms of sports, Chicago is the third largest market in the United States falling behind New York and Los Angeles.

Who is that famous guy that won a few championships for the Bulls? Oh yeah, it was Michael Jordan. He won 6 NBA titles and dominated the 90s. He is one of the best if not the GOAT depending on who you talk to. The opportunity to play on the big stage is endless in Chicago and the Chicago Bulls brand has already been established because of MJ.

Spotlight Increase

Zach Lavine has slowly started to grab the attention of other NBA athletes and analysts within the past year and a half. He made his first All-Star during the 2020–2021 season and won one gold with the United States men’s basketball team during the Olympics this past summer. The Chicago Bulls team was entirely re-designed this past off-season and the results have been positive so far this season. Many of the reasons that the off-season acquisitions came to the Chicago Bulls was to play with Zach Lavine. More and more athletes have come to show support for Zach Lavine making him again a popular figure in today’s NBA landscape.

On Instagram, Zach Lavine has 2.4 million followers. Many of his posts are basketball related and showcasing his teammates from different games they play. This includes highlight reels and videos. As his status as a NBA player ascends to new heights, his following will only begin to grow. Plus, he has barely hit his prime as a basketball player. Some players may start to decline around the age of 33 and 34 if they keep their body healthy. This means you would have Zach Lavine at 100% for the next eight years. The possibility of him winning a championship within the time span. While he hasn’t made a decision on who he will sponsor next, Nike needs to get him now before someone else will.

Nike The One?

Zack has been recently playing in Nike basketball shoes this season including some that were designed by Kobe Bryant, his favorite player.

It would also be a smart move to grab Zach Lavine because he is a Chicago Bull. Again, Nike already has Michael Jordan and to grab Zach Lavine would be smart. Why? As the Bulls continue to win more games they will be put on primetime games. Imagine having the next great Chicago Bull who brings the first championship since MJ. If this were to happen, Nike could create a collaboration with the Air Jordan and a possible shoe with Zach Lavine. The ideas are endless and it only makes sense that Nike should be the one that Zach Lavine chooses. He would not only just help Nike but also for himself. Nike is one of the biggest brands in the entire world and his brand image would immediately be pushed to the forefront. Nike has 181 million followers on Instagram. Having the backs of that kind of power can make Zach Lavine an international icon if the cards are played right.

Top 3 Influencers Benefits

1. Reach your Audience effectively.

A company has the opportunity to reach a struggling audience by using influencers. In our case, what if Nike was looking to get more GenZ involved with basketball shoes who lived in the Midwest. Zach Lavine would be a great choice because he plays in Chicago which is located in Illinois and most of the Midwest would have the Chicago Bulls playing on their local TV channels. As mentioned before Zach Lavine is only 26 years old putting him within a couple of years from the oldest GenZ.

2. Increase Content Strategy

Sometimes you can run out of ideas to post for social media platforms. An influencer can help you create new content for a product. One of the best things that Zach Lavine is known for is for his dunking. He is always having a highlight reel after each game which would give Nike undless content to post. Instead of having Zach Lavine create a dunk show that is planned, you can have real raw footage of him in the moment dunking on his opponents.

3. Driving Conversions

“Nearly 50% of today’s consumers depend on ‘influencer’ recommendations, and an astounding 40% of people have said they ended up making a purchase after seeing it promoted or endorsed on Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter”. With the popularity of Zach Lavine continuingly to grow, he will become someone who is respected for what they have to say. He could also bring Nike millions in revenue if they are able to create a partnership with him.

Zach Lavine’s career has only begun and with the increase in brand awareness he will become a popular figure. As a basketball shoe free agent, he has to make a decision on who he wants to partner with. No matter his choice, he will become a great influencer and an individual who will be trusted. Who will Zach Lavine sign with? Is it like Nike like I mentioned or another shoe brand?