How to Build a New Sneaker Company and the NBA All-Star Hoping to "Make This an Empire” episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 8, 2026 · 27 MIN

How to Build a New Sneaker Company and the NBA All-Star Hoping to "Make This an Empire”

from Business Decision with Mike Vorkunov

The Athletic's national NBA reporter, Mike Vorkunov, looks at how a new shoe company goes from new to an NBA court. On this episode of Business Decision, Mike talked to Stria Sports founder Eric Porter and Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond about how they are trying to build the company into something big and sustainable. Porter founded the company a few years ago and Drummond, a two-time All-Star, just came on as an investor and creative director. Soon, he'll have his own signature shoe. That will be the first time a Stria sneaker hits the #NBA hardwood. So why did Drummond leave Nike for a little-known emerging company? He describes his decision and what he hopes to do at Stria. Porter talks about his idea behind starting the company and what the ambitions are. Also, what's the best business decision both of them made? And why Andre Drummond doesn't just take the easy money anymore.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 8, 2026

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