- Jokic is known for wearing his wedding ring on the laces of his basketball shoes
- He is the third former NBA MVP to leave the Swoosh in favor of another brand
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Nikola Jokic has left Nike to sign a “multi-year” signature shoe deal with a Chinese basketball brand called 361 Degrees. This makes him the third former NBA MVP to leave the American shoemaker, he said Nick DePaula of Yahoo Sports.
'The Joker' wore his brand new sneakers, the 361 Degrees Big3 Future CQT, for the first time on Wednesday in a 113-104 win against the Toronto Raptors. He scored 31 points on 13 of 23 shooting and collected 16 rebounds.
The Big Future CQTs have yet to be sold in stores across America, but can be purchased at 361degreeshop.com for $300.
Considered one of 361 Degrees' flagship products, the shoe features a synthetic and mesh construction and features Carbon Critical and SOARSYSTEM technology.
Jokic, famous for putting his wedding ring on the laces of his basketball shoes, joins Nuggets teammate Aaron Gordon as members of the Chinese brand.
Two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, 28, has left Nike for Chinese basketball brand 361 Degrees
The Joker wears the 361 Degrees' Big3 Future CQT in a 114-103 win against the Raptors on Wednesday.
Considered one of the best centers of all time, Jokic joins Steph Curry and James Harden as the third former NBA MVP to end his deal with Nike.
'The Beard' left Nike for Adidas in 2015, while Curry had worn the American brand for the first four years of his professional career, but then signed with Under Amour when his first sneaker deal expired in 2013.
Another big personality in the sports world who is reportedly leaving 'The Swoosh' is American golfer Tiger Woods, who has earned approximately $500 million from his sponsorship deal with the brand since first signing with Nike in 1996.
This year marks his 27th year with the popular shoemaker. But his deal is about to expire; a 10-year, $200 million contract he signed in 2013 is set to expire.
Jokic scored 31 points on 14 of 23 shooting and collected 16 rebounds with the boots
Between that signing and the present day, Nike has gone from producing golf balls, golf clubs and other golf accessories to just making apparel. That has forced Woods to switch from using Nike's clubs and balls to using other equipment.
Woods now uses TaylorMade clubs and Bridgestone balls. He has also noticeably returned to his Ping-grip Scotty Cameron putter instead of the Nike Method putter he used for a while.
He has also switched to wearing Foot-Joy golf shoes, moving away from a product that Nike still makes.
When asked about the relationship between himself and the company at PNC, Woods responded, “I still wear their product.” When asked for a follow-up, he repeated his answer.