“U dusty bouta retire soon anyway”: Adidas Makes a Regrettable Decision, Insults NBA Star Kevin Durant
An Adidas social media account sparked outrage after firing off an insult at 13-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant. The provocative post called the 35-year-old Phoenix Suns forward, suggesting he would retire soon anyway. The inflammatory remarks came in response to Durant rejecting a request from Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards to try on Edwards’ new signature Adidas sneaker. Durant is signed to a rival lifetime Nike endorsement deal reportedly worth $300 million.
What Prompted The Attack Against Kevin Durant?
The ugly social media exchange stemmed from a video where Anthony Edwards asked Kevin Durant to wear his new Adidas shoes.
“Won’t EVER see me put a big toe in them MFs,” Durant responded about sporting anything Adidas-branded.
Adidas then tweeted an insulting comment against Durant.
Adidas tweeted and then deleted a diss to Kevin Durant
“Meant to send that from the burner account…” pic.twitter.com/VHx7I8q123
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) December 1, 2023
That defiance set off the brand’s social manager.
“You dusty bouta retire soon anyway,”
fired back the Adidas account in a post it later deleted. A flippant follow-up only made things worse:
“Meant to send that from the burner account…”
How Financially Successful Is Kevin Durant?
Despite Adidas’ crude retirement slight, Durant remains one of the NBA’s highest earners even approaching his mid-30s. He pulled in $89.1 million total in the past year, according to Forbes – third in the league behind LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
That haul stems both from Durant’s lucrative $44.1 million Suns salary as well as his Nike lifetime deal and other endorsements. At 35, with four years left on his Phoenix contract, KD should still have plenty left in the tank.
Adidas issued a statement acknowledging its account’s tweet was “inappropriate” and done “without authorization.” But the damage may already be done from both alienating star Edwards and disrespecting NBA icon Durant. Adidas’ partnership with divisive rapper Kanye West collapsed in October amid his offensive rants.
