16-time All-Star Kevin Durant is having a strong debut season with the Houston Rockets, as they look to make a deep playoff run. Durant’s continued status as a top player helps the NBA’s jersey manufacturer and his endorsement partner, Nike. If there were any questions regarding Durant’s loyalty to the global athletic giant, he answered them with a strong takedown of one of Nike’s top rivals.
Kevin Durant Slams Adidas by Questioning Brand’s Popularity
Durant took a massive shot at athletic giant Adidas while on a live stream. Durant said “Who the fu*k wears Adidas? Nah real sh*t, if you’re not hooping, who wears Adidas?”
Durant has been a Nike athlete for his entire career. He has his own signature line of shoes, which are some of the most popular and profitable Nike has produced. Durant’s shoes have been praised by fellow NBA players, top college players, and top high school players for their innovative features and comfort.
“Who the fu*k wears Adidas”
– Kevin Durant
(h/t @brkicks)
pic.twitter.com/WTxZpemV7Y— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) February 24, 2026
Durant nearly left Nike over a decade ago, as Under Armour nearly secured Durant’s services, but the company reportedly made an offer of around $300 million to beat Under Armour and keep Durant in the fold. The partnership continued to be mutually beneficial, and in 2023, Durant signed a lifetime deal with Nike, joining Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the only NBA players with lifetime Nike contracts.
Nike may secretly be pleased to see Durant take a public shot at their longtime rival. Adidas continues to thrive near the top of the industry. The company actually reported an increase in revenue in 2025, driven by unique concepts and huge endorsement deals with celebrities in the entertainment industry, such as musical artist Bad Bunny.
While not considered a threat to Nike, Adidas does have a strong portfolio of endorsers, including multi-time All-Stars Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Damian Lillard. They also gave 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose a historic deal when the brand really seemed likely to challenge Nike for supremacy.
Edwards, in particular, is someone who has a lot of respect for Durant and considers him a childhood idol. As the face of Adidas basketball for the foreseeable future, it’ll be interesting to see if he has a response to Durant’s comments. At the minimum, it might add some extra juice to the next game between the Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves.
