From Underdog to Top Dog: How Steph Curry and Under Armour Rewrote the Rules (and Made a Few Layups Along the Way!)

Nike? More Like 'Bye ke'!

Hiya Dreamhouse friends! It's me Barbie reporting on some major hoopla in the basketball world. Back in 2013 Stephen Curry the guy who can make it rain threes like I make outfit changes did the unthinkable! He bounced from Nike to Under Armour. Can you believe it? It's like ditching my convertible for... well a slightly less flashy convertible. But hey sometimes you gotta shake things up right? As Under Armour's CEO Kevin Plank said they're the brand for those who weren't 'big enough or tall enough or fast enough or strong enough or smart enough or clever enough.' Talk about relatable! Even I've had days where my hair just won't cooperate!

Operation: Win Curry's Heart (and Feet)

So how did Under Armour snag this superstar? Apparently they went full on 'Operation: Woo Curry.' Plank targeted Curry's teammate Kent Bazemore showering him with Under Armour goodies. It was like a real life game of 'Dress Up Barbie,' but with sneakers! Curry seeing all the attention Bazemore was getting reportedly wondered why Nike wasn't showing him the same love. Ouch! Talk about a missed opportunity. Remember darlings presentation is everything! And in this case Nike seriously fumbled the ball!

The Botched Pitch: A Nike No No!

Oh honey the tea is piping hot! Allegedly Nike's presentation to Curry was a total disaster. They mispronounced his name (the disrespect!) and used a recycled slideshow with Kevin Durant's name still on it! Can you imagine? It's like showing up to the Malibu Dreamhouse in last season's clothes! Meanwhile Under Armour offered Curry a cool $4 million a year while Nike low balled him with $2.5 million and refused to match. It's safe to say Nike was *not* feeling the Ken ergy in that negotiation. 'Math is hard,' but even *I* know that's a bad deal!

Curry Brand: A Slam Dunk of Success?

Fast forward to today and Curry has his own signature line with Under Armour! We're talking shoes apparel the whole shebang! In 2023 they signed a new long term extension and made Curry the president of the newly formed Curry Brand. He even got 8.8 million Under Armour shares valued at $75 million at the time! Talk about a dream deal! It's like finding a vintage Dreamhouse in perfect condition for a bargain price! But as with any good saga there's a twist...

Under Armour's Ups and Downs: A Fashion Rollercoaster!

Under Armour's stock price has been on a rollercoaster. From a high of $45.41 in 2016 to less than $6 today. Some say the drama has held back Curry's off court potential. According to Nico Harrison "In all honesty if he would have stayed with Nike his business would be a monster right now. A monster." Maybe maybe not! Remember 'We can do anything right?' Sometimes taking the road less traveled even if it's a little bumpy can lead to amazing discoveries. And Curry took an equity position in the company so he got to understand how to leverage everything to create value!

Elevate the Under: Curry's Real MVP Move

But here's the real kicker! Curry is using his success to 'elevate the under.' A portion of the Curry Brand's revenue goes to under resourced communities. They've refurbished basketball courts trained coaches and supported youth programs. It's like giving the whole world a Dreamhouse makeover! As Curry said he wants to be a trailblazer both on and off the court. Now that's what I call 'Come on Barbie let's go party...and make a difference!'