Should UK dump Nike and find a brand that will feature us?

[Son_Of_Saul]

I think further pissing off the #1 shoe company in the world is a great idea. Worked well for us the last time, as we went from the coolest program in America to suddenly going on a historic-level Final Four drought.

Let's do it again!

 

[Ash Williams]

There are these things called contracts. And we just recently signed a 10 year one with Nike.

So “dumping” em ain’t gonna be an option for a good long while.

Mitch and his lifetime contracts…smh

 

[CameronCat22]

Mitch and his lifetime contracts…smh

You think a 10 year contract is a lifetime contract?

 

[BlueSince92]

Pope can’t recruit worth a crap but Nike dicked Cal over endlessly his last eight years here. I’m all for subsidizing their Chinese slave labor a bit less.

 

[TFCat11]

No, Nike love them or hate them, is the premier brand in most of sports, definitely in basketball!

Nike only supports schools in most situations, yes including Duke, with equipment/ gear and stuff, while it’s the private boosters/ alumni/ business partners who fund the NIL that gets the players!

If UK’s boosters would step up the way Duke, Arkansas, and others, just to name a few, no one would be using Nike as the scapegoat for missing out on players!

Heck, look no further than the Stokes recruitment (or Flagg’s), to see how much of an influence, or lack there of, Nike or Adidas have when it comes to their sponsorship schools signing players.

 

[mdluk1]

There are these things called contracts. And we just recently signed a 10 year one with Nike.

So “dumping” em ain’t gonna be an option for a good long while.

Well, UK should make it widely known that they are unhappy with Nike and will be looking to make a change for the next contract. And the company that shows them the most love until then, will get the first chance at the next contract.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

Hell no. All the other brands make gear that looks like cheap garbage. I actually feel bad for UT switching back to adidas this year. Their unis will go back to looking like ****.

I’d never buy another piece of Kentucky gear again if they left Nike, especially if they went to adidas.

 

[CatManFromCa]

1) how do you have any idea what Nike has or has not done for UK?
2) provide examples of what they have done for other Nike schools ($100 says the response is about Duke)
3) what brand should they go to?

Great questions! #3. If we can get BBN behind Pope…I would pick Puma! I love the jumping cat! I found this image on the Google…so somebody is thinking like me!

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

Great questions! #3. If we can get BBN behind Pope…I would pick Puma! I love the jumping cat! I found this image on the Google…so somebody is thinking like me!View attachment 1289974

Your shtick is getting tired

 

[Yeti_SZN]

Nah, switching to anyone else would be a horrible decision. Adidas is falling severely behind in the new Y2K runner trend that’s taking over the streetwear game rn. Nike is dominating it and so is New Balance and Asics. You’re not gonna see dudes around my age wearing anything adidas. You’re wearing Zoom Vomero’s or P-6000’s or even RNR’s. Adidas is losing ground and Nike continues to be on the forefront as much as some people hate them. Most of the top programs in college sports are Nike branded for a reason. (Jordan brand applies to Nike as well)

 

[CatManFromCa]

Your shtick is getting tired

So now me being a UK fan…supporting our current coach…who is one of us…is now “shtick”. Your Pope bashing shtick is getting tired. Go be an Arky fan like the rest of you traders!

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

So now me being a UK fan…supporting our current coach…who is one of us…is now “shtick”. Your Pope bashing shtick is getting tired. Go be an Arky fan like the rest of you traders!

Ok you won me back over with that one. I can't stay mad at you

 

[keiths]

Recruiting and just in general. They never seem to feature like they do duke.

No disrespect intended. Duke is the face of college basketball nowadays. And I would argue that Kansas is actually second. I hate it, but it is what it is

 

[Damage_inc]

This is dumb. No, we don't want to get rid of Nike. Lol

It's not Nike's fault no one wants to play for Pope

 

[Beatle Bum]

It’s not about pope. This has been going on for years.

Everything is about Pope for some posters.

 

[mdluk1]

This is dumb. No, we don't want to get rid of Nike. Lol

It's not Nike's fault no one wants to play for Pope

Yeah, you’re right. Why would we want to get rid of a shoe company that couldn’t even get a player they have under contract, from going to an adidas school? That is dumb. Smmfh

 

[KyWilson239]

A shoe in keeping with the energy and sex appeal Coach Pope has injected into the program.

Analytics love the versatility!

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

Yeah, you’re right. Why would we want to get rid of a shoe company that couldn’t even get a player they have under contract, from going to an adidas school? That is dumb. Smmfh

It is dumb.
Pope couldn't close the deal.
What do you want Nike to do? Obviously, they would've done whatever necessary to get Stokes to a Nike school. This whiff has a negative effect on them, same as it does UK.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

Well, UK should make it widely known that they are unhappy with Nike and will be looking to make a change for the next contract. And the company that shows them the most love until then, will get the first chance at the next contract.

But why? What's the endgame here?

 

[fisherscatfan]

Yeah, you’re right. Why would we want to get rid of a shoe company that couldn’t even get a player they have under contract, from going to an adidas school? That is dumb. Smmfh

Calipari screwed UK again here. Cal thought he was bigger than Nike and snubbed the initial PK tournament. Since then Duke’s recruiting has surged past UK. Pope only magnifies the problem.

Cal blamed travel yet we all know Cal was too focused on turning his roster over year after year in pursuit of his generational wealth claim and wanted no part of being exposed in a tournament.

No Maui—travel. No PK—travel. Michigan in London—sign Cal up all day. Cal thought he was bigger than Nike and he got the horns from big business.

 

[mhs1964]

1) how do you have any idea what Nike has or has not done for UK?
2) provide examples of what they have done for other Nike schools ($100 says the response is about Duke)
3) what brand should they go to?

I read a couple of months ago that LSU switched to Adidas and two weeks later eleven football players were signed to NIL agreements. Nike lets there most high profile non professional basketball player sign with an Adidas school. I am sure they are helping Louisville as well. Hell, it was an Adidas guy that was funneling money to Louisville that got them on probation. I see nothing at UK that Nikehas done for individual athletes

 

[CatManFromCa]

Yeah, you’re right. Why would we want to get rid of a shoe company that couldn’t even get a player they have under contract, from going to an adidas school? That is dumb. Smmfh

EXACTLY! I bet if Duke wanted the same player….NO WAY he ends up in Kansas. Nike let this kid drag out his recruitment until most of the best portal players were gone.

They let him slow‑roll us until every top option was gone. NO WAY Nike would do this to Duke! But for UK? They let the kid juggle us like a side piece.

Duke gets Nike concierge service.
UK gets “please hold, your call is very important to us” from a Nike call center in the Philippines.

 

[Ednunn]

Nike stock down 50% last 6 months.

 

[Blu-ish]

NIKE Stock
10/2022. $179.10
Today. $41.70

 

[CameronCat22]

Calipari screwed UK again here. Cal thought he was bigger than Nike and snubbed the initial PK tournament. Since then Duke’s recruiting has surged past UK. Pope only magnifies the problem.

Cal blamed travel yet we all know Cal was too focused on turning his roster over year after year in pursuit of his generational wealth claim and wanted no part of being exposed in a tournament.

No Maui—travel. No PK—travel. Michigan in London—sign Cal up all day. Cal thought he was bigger than Nike and he got the horns from big business.

Yet Cal is still bringing in top classes. Do you really believe the dumb stuff you say? Surely this is an act.

 

[ORCAT]

I haven't seen a single thing that Nike has done to our benefit for many years, including the stupid logo designs they have come up for us. I wouldn't be disappointed on bit if we switched to another deal but I have a feeling that UK is locked into a contract with Nike for years to come, just fits Barnhart's long term deals he loves so much.

 

[fisherscatfan]

Yet Cal is still bringing in top classes. Do you really believe the dumb stuff you say? Surely this is an act.

Nike founder not happy UK skipped the PK80

The PK80 starts tomorrow in Portland, Oregon and will feature all of the premiere Nike schools in college basketball…except Kentucky. Kentucky opted not to participate in the tournament celebrating Nike founder Phil Knight’s 80th birthday, and last night, John Calipari said Knight is not very...

www.on3.com

John Calipari explains why UK basketball did not play in the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational

John Calipari explained why Kentucky was not among the talented field at the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational.

byucougarswire.usatoday.com

Cal brings in top classes still because he still has the clout of being able to say look at my history. Take a look at the shift in recruiting rankings post PK80 inaugural event and Duke has done quite well.

 

[CameronCat22]

Nike founder not happy UK skipped the PK80

The PK80 starts tomorrow in Portland, Oregon and will feature all of the premiere Nike schools in college basketball…except Kentucky. Kentucky opted not to participate in the tournament celebrating Nike founder Phil Knight’s 80th birthday, and last night, John Calipari said Knight is not very...

www.on3.com

John Calipari explains why UK basketball did not play in the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational

John Calipari explained why Kentucky was not among the talented field at the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational.

byucougarswire.usatoday.com

Cal brings in top classes still because he still has the clout of being able to say look at my history. Take a look at the shift in recruiting rankings post PK80 inaugural event and Duke has done quite well.

So Cal allegedly pissing off Nike hurt UK but not Cal? That’s logic you would expect here.

 

[fisherscatfan]

*

 

[CameronCat22]

Cal saw a dip as well but he was still good. That’s not the point. Duke saw a benefit but you continue to be obtuse. Look at the shift in Duke‘s recruiting.

Obtuse is claiming ignorance like Nike was mad at Cal so it hurt UK but not Cal. That’s dumb af and everyone knows it. Look at Cal recruiting at Arkansas, a Nike school. They’re thriving in recruiting. Your goofy theory is a joke. Cal hasn’t had a class outside the top 4 in the Rivals team rankings since then, but sure.

 

[Damage_inc]

Yeah, you’re right. Why would we want to get rid of a shoe company that couldn’t even get a player they have under contract, from going to an adidas school? That is dumb. Smmfh

Says more about Pope than it does Nike. That kid was willing to risk his relationship with his sponsor to not play for Pope. But you tell yourself whatever you need to in order to feel better.

 

[Buckwheat Otay Is Dead]

We may not have to worry about it much longer, Nike might dump us.

You’re a marketing guru no doubt. I bet you liked the Cracker Barrel changes.

 

[mdluk1]

Says more about Pope than it does Nike. That kid was willing to risk his relationship with his sponsor to not play for Pope. But you tell yourself whatever you need to in order to feel better.

Sounds exactly like what you are doing. Nike has a contract with him to wear their shoes, If they had used that to pressure him, he would have gone with the NIKE school.They didn't. And they haven't helped UK for several years.

 

[Damage_inc]

I don't know how old you bud, but kids hate adidas. Full stop.

Nothing that's happened is Nikes fault. Hell Nike offered to kick in about 2 mil to get stokes to UK and that kid still said no to Pope.

 

[CatManFromCa]

I don't know how old you bud, but kids hate adidas. Full stop.

Nothing that's happened is Nikes fault. Hell Nike offered to kick in about 2 mil to get stokes to UK and that kid still said no to Pope.

This is not true! Show me the link! There is zero verified evidence Nike offered $2M to Stokes to attend UK. None. Zero. Nada.

THIS IS A LIE!

 

[Damage_inc]

This is not true! Show me the link! There is zero verified evidence Nike offered $2M to Stokes to attend UK. None. Zero. Nada.

THIS IS A LIE!

It's been pretty well known that there was money available for stokes that was not available for anyone else and it was via nike. Did you not follow this recruitment at all? I was able to enact the aid of google for the below information

Tyran Stokes, the top-ranked 2026 basketball recruit, has been heavily pursued with NIL packages in the $6M–$7M+ range, often cited to include roughly $4 million from Kentucky and an additional $2 million through a multi-year Nike deal. While Kentucky initially used this high-money Nike-backed offer, reports indicate intense competition, particularly with Kansas, with some sources in April 2026 indicating the recruitment remains a, "nail-biter". [1, 2, 3]

• Kentucky's Offer: Reported at $6–$7+ million, structured as a combination of program NIL and a major Nike deal.
• Nike Connection: As a Nike-sponsored school, Kentucky has been able to leverage a $2 million Nike deal for Stokes, who has signed a multi-year agreement with the brand.
• Competing Bids: Kansas has matched or come close to these, with some reports in early April suggesting a $6 million package from the Jayhawks.

 

[Beatle Bum]

It's been pretty well known that there was money available for stokes that was not available for anyone else and it was via nike. Did you not follow this recruitment at all? I was able to enact the aid of google for the below information

Tyran Stokes, the top-ranked 2026 basketball recruit, has been heavily pursued with NIL packages in the $6M–$7M+ range, often cited to include roughly $4 million from Kentucky and an additional $2 million through a multi-year Nike deal. While Kentucky initially used this high-money Nike-backed offer, reports indicate intense competition, particularly with Kansas, with some sources in April 2026 indicating the recruitment remains a, "nail-biter". [1, 2, 3]

• Kentucky's Offer: Reported at $6–$7+ million, structured as a combination of program NIL and a major Nike deal.
• Nike Connection: As a Nike-sponsored school, Kentucky has been able to leverage a $2 million Nike deal for Stokes, who has signed a multi-year agreement with the brand.
• Competing Bids: Kansas has matched or come close to these, with some reports in early April suggesting a $6 million package from the Jayhawks.

Wow. You just linked to FB and Instagram accounts to evince your claim.

 

[Mossip]

Good point, but didn’t you just post google AI yesterday and got pissy when mocked? LLM’s scan those same sources.

anybody remember “Google scholar” searches? They actually tried to ferret out primary vs secondary sources? I wish we could move back to those times.

 

[Goingfor9]

I'd take Adidas in a heartbeat. We'd at least get some new uniforms. And we'd instantly be their biggest CBB school. Nike is all over Duke and Oregon.

No thank you.

 

[Goingfor9]

Maybe Nike should think about ditching UK??