Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Vanessa Bryant Slams Shams For Calling DeMar DeRozan The New ‘Face’ Of Kobe’s Nike Line

Kobe Bryant’s final contract with Nike expired about a year ago and wasn’t renewed by Kobe’s wife Vanessa, whose goal was to make Kobe products available to all of his fans.

According to a report by ESPN, frustration grew due to Nike limiting the availability of Kobe products during his retirement and after his death.

But the two sides were able to calm the ways, and in March, Vanessa Bryant announced that the partnership with Nike will continue.

Another reason for the renewal was the high demand for Bryant’s shoes among NBA players.

Kobes have been the most present basketball sneakers in the NBA for a ages, with an estimated 67% of active players wearing Kobes. Among them, some of the league’s biggest stars like Anthony Davis, DeMar DeRozan, Devin Booker and Khris Middleton.

This fact also is one of the main reasons why Vanessa and Nike agreed to renew the deal.

Then, earlier this week, Shams Charania reported that Nike also ‘found its new face of the line in DeMar DeRozan’, while signing him to a new four-year deal.

Fresh off making All-NBA second team, Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan is signing a new four-year deal with Nike that keeps him as the featured face of Kobe Bryant’s iconic line, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2022

Upon reading the news, Vanessa Bryant was not happy with Shams Charania’s wording and slammed him for calling DeRozan the ‘face’ of Kobe Bryant’s Nike line.

Vanessa Bryant responds to @ShamsCharania’s report of DeMar Derozan being face of Kobe’s Nike signature line https://t.co/wWfIrNN8Pw pic.twitter.com/qC6pkBW6O5

— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) August 1, 2022