398 :: How Nike Lost Steph Curry: A Case Study of a Multi-Billion Dollar Mistake

In episode 398, a 2016 ESPN article written by Ethan Sherwood Strauss has been converted into a vivid and engaging case study illustrating the laws of power, influence, persuasion, and value—including what to do and what not to do. The case study examines Steph Curry's rise to fame and his disillusionment and feelings of disrespect from the leaders at Nike. His decision to sign with underdog Under Armour (UA) over Nike has redirected billions of dollars over the years—and will continue to do so as Curry will sign a lifetime deal with UA. This episode reveals how Nike missed the shifting NBA trend away from back-to-the-basket offense and toward historic long range accuracy beyond the three-point line. The story also reveals one path toward developing trust through an unlikely source in character of Kent Bazemore, an undrafted 12th-man from Old Dominion University. This case study involving Steph Curry, Nike, and Under Armour is a story about life: How to build trust, developing strong relationships, and adaptation to dynamic industry changes. KeyTakeaways/Insights •Delivering value first through helpfulness and persistence pays off over time. •Documenting and challenging assumptions enables you to monitor trends and position yourself to gain advantages from industry shifts. •Never underestimate the power of social proof ; allow others to promote your products and services •Innovation can come from unexpected places if you're open-minded •Market leadership can lead to complacency, causing undercapitalized underdogs to connect with rising stars •Inattention to strong relationships increases your vulnerability to competitors Chapters 0:00:00 Underutilized Strategy in Plain Sight: Curry and the 3-point line 0:05:24 Anatomy of a Trainwreck: Nike's sales pitch to Curry 0:09:27 The Kent Bazemore Principle: Curiosity by proxy 0:13:03 Under Armour's unconventional strategy 0:21:48 The Underdog Advantage 0:25:51 Nike defends   At Bradley Hartmann & Company, we help construction teams improve sales, leadership,  and communication by reducing miscommunication, strengthening teamwork, and bridging language gaps between English and Spanish speakers. To learn more about our product offerings, visit bradleyhartmannandco.com. The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems—whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization. Have topic ideas or guest recommendations? Contact us at [email protected]. New podcasts are dropped every Tuesday and Thursday.   This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.