words_Nick DePaula
After one of the more odd marketing standoffs of the season took place last June, in which Reebok gave Orlando Magic Center Marcin Gortat the orders to cover his Jumpman tattoo during the NBA Finals, or else, it appears as though the two sides were never able to repair their rocky relationship since, and now Gortat has been spotted rocking a Nike bandana around Magic facilities.
““I’ve been wearing it 4-5 years now, and it helped me get to the NBA,” said Gortat at the time of the tattoo controversy. “They didn’t say anything about it when I signed the contract, so it’s not going anywhere. I don’t think they are paying me enough to take it off.”
As it turns out, Reebok definitely wasn’t paying him enough by the standards of anyone who knows anything about monetary value, as they were actually paying him absolutely nothing, and instead just sending Gortat free sneakers for the season. While it’s tough to argue Gortat deserved any kind of endorsement deal beyond a merchandise contract, he’s since proven himself to be a dependable backup center in the league, and was recently rewarded with a 5 year, $34 Million contract to return to the Magic. Once the new season approaches, you can expect to see Gortat wearing team product from Nike Basketball, as the chapter of his life involving Reebok is now over.
Source: CNBC
After word came out last June about the Gortat and Reebok controversy, we took a look at players in the league that were also branded with another company’s logo other than their current endorser.
You can also add rookie Jordan Hill to the crew of Jumpman-donning players — though he currently wears Nike. Oh yeah, and his name is Jordan.
July 28th, 2009 at 2:45 am
Lol, JB, give the man some shoes
July 28th, 2009 at 2:52 am
What nene said, great article
July 28th, 2009 at 3:02 am
LMAO!!! He should’ve just tattooed, “Property of Michael Jordan” on his ass.
July 28th, 2009 at 9:51 am
MJ needs to reach out to Gortat. He’d be a bigger Jordan Brand acquisition than Flash. The Polish would be out in full force buying The Warlock I.
July 28th, 2009 at 11:05 am
JB should definitely sign him.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
That’s reeboks loss – jb should swoop him up ( better shoes with alot more relevancy than reebok)
July 29th, 2009 at 11:34 am
He’d be a bigger Jordan Brand acquisition than Flash
July 29th, 2009 at 11:58 am
it’d be the first big man on JB.
“The Warlock I” lol
July 30th, 2009 at 6:35 am
He’s 2nd at least, Jared Jeffries has been with JB for years.
July 30th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Two words: FUCK REEBOK!!!!!
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:00 am
lol good for you man that’s stupid, and reebok hasn’t come out with a good shoe since…… ever hahahahahaha
August 4th, 2009 at 3:53 am
jordan brand should swoop gortat and complete the epic summer
October 17th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
hahaha
he better go find a armband or something.
them reebokz gonna lose grip before you kno it!
October 18th, 2009 at 3:57 am
Mos def jb needs to hook him up. since he is already branded a jb (catch ma drift)LOL!!!!
October 18th, 2009 at 4:01 am
the only shoes i ever liked from reebok was those ones with the zipper that hid the laces in like a spongy material and the white/orange pumps. other than that like like homie said up there FUCK REEBOK!!!!!
October 18th, 2009 at 4:02 am
POST NOTE.
I like most of the iversons too