The blowback against Kyrie Irving continued this morning when longtime sponsor Nike announced it had parted ways with the Brooklyn Nets star guard.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania confirmed the news through a Nike spokesperson.
“Kyrie Irving is no longer a Nike athlete, Nike spokesperson says,” tweeted Charania. “The sides have parted ways one month after Nike suspended its relationship with the Nets star.”
So after coming off an eight-game suspension without pay and meeting the excessive demands of the team, Irving is a free agent in the highly competitive sneaker market.
But that’s not too much of a surprise.
In May, ESPN reported that the two parties might go their separate ways. Once he became embroiled in his latest controversial incident, it was pretty much a done deal.
Irving’s recent dilemma, which began on October 27th when he shared a link to a controversial documentary, is well known at this point.
Afterward, opinions from all sides erupted, some in support of Kyrie and others in admonishment.
The incident garnered attention for anti-discrimination groups while also shining the spotlight on Black Israelites.
Now that most of the reactions have calmed down and Kyrie is back on the court for the Nets, the embattled star finds himself in a familiar position.
A lightning rod for off-the-court attention and a beloved figure by NBA fans.
Yet now, for the first time in eight years, he’s without a signature shoe.
But based on his most recent tweet today, he’s good with it.
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