Jordan Brand

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler and Nike's Jordan Brand have reportedly reached an agreement to terminate his endorsement contract, which was scheduled to run through Sept. 30.

ESPN's Nick DePaula reported the news Thursday and noted Butler is set to "begin discussions with multiple brands toward negotiating a new multi-year endorsement deal" with hope of finding a new sneaker contract before NBA All-Star Weekend in February.

The 30-year-old Houston native started his career with Adidas but switched to the Jordan Brand in 2014.

Happy Walters, Butler's former agent, told Danny Ecker of Chicago Business in a 2015 interview that his client took a 75 percent pay cut to make the change.

"A lot of guys get in the NBA and want to do everything that comes by because they want to see their faces somewhere," Walters said. "Jimmy has been really patient."

Butler is now represented by Bernie Lee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uPT3NQULIU

Although it's unclear what brands will be the most aggressive in pursuing the four-time All-Star, DePaula suggested it's possible Heat legend Dwyane Wade could make a push to have him join the Way of Wade brand, which is an offshoot from Chinese apparel company Li-Ning.

Butler said in September that Wade, who retired after last season, helped convince him to join Miami by saying "this culture fits you" in a pseudo passing of the torch:

https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1177632493249470464

The Marquette product is enjoying a terrific first season with the Heat. He's averaged 20.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 2.0 steals across 29 appearances to help lead the team to a 24-9 record, which is the third-best mark in the Eastern Conference.

It should put him in a strong negotiating position as he begins the hunt for a new endorsement deal.

After a breakout start to the 2019-20 season, Luke Doncic is nearing a "lucrative" endorsement deal with Jordan Brand, according to Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic and Tim Cato of The Athletic.

Will Cain of ESPN Radio on Thursday teased a potential move to Jordan Brand.

Doncic had been without a shoe deal during his second season in the NBA, but he turned enough heads while averaging 29.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.9 assists in his first 25 games. He has been sidelined for the last three games with an ankle injury but has proved to be one of the more exciting young players in the game.

The 20-year-old won the league's Rookie of the Year Award in 2018-19 after averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.

Considering Zion Williamson signed a 5-year, $75 million deal with Jordan Brand this summer before ever playing an NBA game, per Darren Rovell of the Action Network, Doncic could also land a significant payday with the new contract.

The Slovenian will bring an international market to whichever company he endorses.

It seems he will sign with Jordan Brand, continuing a run of top athletes who have signed with the company, including Williamson, Russell Westbrook, Jimmy Butler, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul.

Jordan Brand also announced its first $1 billion quarter this week, via Marc Bain of Quartz.

The retro industry is built on nostalgia, and that nostalgia is inextricably tied to the details: the colors, the material, the height of the upper and pull tabs. What may seem like minor changes to some can completely turn others off to a retro release. Indeed, how is someone supposed to "Be Like Mike" when their reissued kicks look different?

Eventually, Jordan Brand took note of fans' complaints and in the spring of 2015 launched the "Remastered" program, dedicated to releasing retro models as similar to the originals as possible. While sneakerheads were excited about their favorite Jordans coming back with all of the nuances, they were less than enthusiastic about the prices. Jordans that previously retailed for between $160 and $180 were now going for between $190 and $220, causing some pairs to end up on sale racks, a place Jordans in OG colorways are seldom seen. Luckily, Jordan Brand didn't let this discourage it, and years later, the Remastered program is still going strong.

The "Black Infrared" Jordan 6 made its return for the first time since 1991 during NBA All-Star Weekend with all of the original specs—an iconic colorway on an equally iconic sneaker. That isn't all the brand has done well of late, as we take a look back at recent releases that aimed to correct the wayward designs of beloved retros from the pre-Remastered era.

     

Jordan 8

The 2007 release of the Jordan 8 "Aqua" marked the first unveiling of the colorway since it initially dropped in 1993. Although many fans were eager to get their hands on a pair for the first time in over a decade, those old enough to remember the original may have been disappointed by the changes.

The '07 pair featured a yellow circle, instead of gold, around the logo on the tongue (the 8's calling card). The shade of gray used throughout was basically a matte black where once it was dark gray. Shiny speckles that covered the purple areas of the midsole on the '93 version were no more. And while the Aqua 8 was known for the colorful motif on the outsole and insole, the '07 pair replaced the graffiti-patterned insole with a simple design featuring a Jumpman logo. In essence, it seemed as if Jordan Brand wanted to suck the fun out of one of its most cartoonish (see: Bugs Bunny has his own colorway of the 8) sneakers.

Luckily for purists, in 2015 the Aqua 8 returned with the gold circle, a gray akin to the original, a colorful insole and even more speckles than before, making it a shoe any sneakerhead (or Looney Tune) would be proud to rock again.

     

Jordan 3

The "Black Cement" Jordan 3s are considered by many to be the greatest Jordans of all time, and in 2011 they returned, via an individual release (the "Countdown Pack" of 2008 included a pair), for the first time since '01. But subtle distinctions made, in part, to mark Jordan Brand's independence from Nike altered a classic. A "Jumpman AIR" logo was embroidered on the back tab of the shoe, while "JORDAN" is featured on the outsole where "NIKE" once was.

The colors on the 2011 stray from the original as well. A "varsity red" replaced "fire red" on the tongue. Black was subbed in for the original dark gray in the cracks of the elephant print, and the insole morphed into gray from the red found on the '01 model.

All was rectified last year, however, with an All-Star Weekend release of the Black Cement Jordan 3 that came as close to the 1988 original as we've seen.

     

Jordan 11

The 2011 release of the Jordan 11 "Concord" laid the groundwork for a generational controversy that stirred for seven years. The debate centered on the height of the patent leather, which was lower on the upper of the 2011 model than on the original.

In 2018, when Jordan Brand brought back the Concord 11 with the gleaming black leather back at its original height, some fans were displeased. Many who were too young to remember the 1996 version expected something similar to the '11 pair. Nevertheless, it was nice to see that detail executed as it was originally intended.

The '18 Concord 11 is actually more historically accurate in one sense, utilizing the number "45" on the ankle (indicative of the jersey Jordan wore at the time of the shoe's original release) instead of the "23" the '96 and '11 versions had.

     

Jordan 4

Almost 13 years had passed since the two most popular Jordan 4 colorways (black/red and "White Cement") had been made available outside of packs. And while many were pleased with how the "Bred" pair came out for the 2012 rerelease, the public's response to the White Cement pair would be best described as hardly satisfied. The leather was stiff and dry, almost plastic-like in texture. Instead of the Nike logo, the shoe featured a Jumpman on the insole, outsole and heel tab. 

Most upsetting, the shade of gray used throughout the upper and midsole on the White Cement version was significantly darker than on the original and '99 pairs.

Sneakerheads revel in how minimal most original Jordan colorways are; typically involving a combination of white, black, red and occasionally another color (cement gray in this instance). When dealing with such a limited color palette, changing a single shade can dramatically affect the look of the sneaker. Simply put, it threw everything off.

Thankfully, in 2016 the White Cement 4 returned with a higher-quality, supple leather, original branding and the hue of gray birthed in 1989.

     

Jordan 1

The 2013 Jordan 1 "Banned" was close to perfect. For years, iterations of MJ's first shoe were released with different branding and materials. Then, the 2013 silhouette arrived just one detail away from the original: polyurethane.

A chemical used to hide flaws in leather, polyurethane can also transform the color of a shoe's dye. Given the coating, the leather on the 2013 pair takes on a smooth appearance and the red is slightly brighter than it should be.

Three years later, the shoe resurfaced, sans polyurethane coating, making it Jordan Brand's closest approximation to the original.

     

Jordan 6

The black/red Jordan 6 has a strange history, one so curious that Nike SNKRS used its "Inside The Vault" series to chronicle the six variations in which the shoe has been released.

While each of the five releases since 1991 differs from the original, the 2014 edition was the most disheartening for Jordan fans. The reflective component of the upper was presented in the same manner as the original, but that's where the similarities end. The '14 model featured Jumpman Air branding on the heel as well as a Jumpman on the lace lock and insole, as opposed to Nike Air. Further, the Durabuck material used for the upper felt more synthetic (i.e., cheaper), and the puffy, pod-like shapes at the ankles were much smaller. Worst of all, the shade of red (referred to as "Infrared 23" on the SNKRS app) was brighter than any red incorporated into previous versions and closer to fluorescent pink.

Earlier this year, though, fans were treated to the return of the 6 with Nike Air branding, reflective details and a proper shade of infrared that mirrors the shoe's debut.

With rumors that the Jordan 1 will be returning in its original form (i.e., same shape, height and colors as in 1985), Jordan Brand's streak of releasing historically accurate retros appears to be alive and well. While there was some doubt as to whether the Remastered program's price hike would alienate consumers, the "instant" sellouts of most of the sneakers above prove that connoisseurs are willing to pay a premium if that means their favorite Jordans are brought back in all their glory.

    

Anteneh Gebre is a freelance writer covering fashion and sneakers. His work can be seen at Grailed.com.

Fortnite Battle Royale, which just concluded a partnership with John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, announced a new collaboration with Nike's Jordan Jumpman brand as part of its version 9.10 patch release Wednesday.

Epic Games released a trailer showcasing the various skins and other Jumpman items available, some of which can be unlocked through the new Downtown Drop LTM by Jordan:

Here's a closer look at all of the new options Fortnite players can cop from the Hang Time Bundle:

https://twitter.com/BeeLeeks/status/1131155334280519680

The smash-hit video game's ability to transcend the marketplace—it became the first title to allow cross-platform play between PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in September—has allowed it to remain one step ahead of competitors, despite the massive rise in battle royale releases.

Meanwhile, Epic also confirmed some minor gameplay changes in the 9.10 patch notes.

Hot spots were added with loot carriers that feature high-level weapons. The special locations, which will be marked in gold on the map, will feature between 12 and 16 carriers. They should be most useful in squads, when loot can sometimes be sparse when trying to fill out four loadouts.

https://twitter.com/dakotaz/status/1131177110511525889

Other notable changes included unvaulting the semi-automatic sniper rifle; reducing the availability of shadow bombs and the combat shotgun; and fixing a glitch that forced players to get stuck in mobility items, such as Ballers and hoverboards.

It also marked another patch with no alterations to the ammo capacity of the powerful drum gun, which made its return near the end of Season 8 despite criticism from the competitive community.