There are a number of firsts on this new partnership.
Portland Path Blazers level guard Damian Lillard has been appointed as the primary “Crew Athlete” for digital sneaker platform, Kicks Crew. In accordance with Ladies’s Put on Day by day, the partnership would be the NBA Allstar’s first tech start-up funding, and the digital firm’s first athlete partnership.
“I see an actual alternative to not solely study one thing new however make actual contributions that may assist develop the enterprise — past simply placing my identify on one thing,” Lillard stated in regards to the partnership. “With all the things I do, I try to make sure I’m extremely concerned and that it’s a reflection of my values and priorities. Oftentimes manufacturers search you out to get all the things from you, however nothing really from you, if that is smart. Kicks Crew and I are working intently collectively in order that we lay the muse for a very long-term relationship.”
The Oakland, California native joined forces with Kicks Crew in August to host a giveaway the place he handed out sneakers from the road in an ice cream truck at Invoice Patterson Park in his hometown. The corporate’s mission of creating sneaker tradition extra accessible by way of group outreach impressed Lillard, and an investor reportedly launched him to the Kicks Crew workforce.
KICKS CREW x @Dame_Lillard . Introducing our newest CREW Athlete with our first marketing campaign the place we went again to Dame’s hometown to offer again. Watch the total movie w/ @Dame_Lillard : https://t.co/kCrlfjRD4g
— KICKS CREW (@kickscrew) October 20, 2022
“That dialog occurred actually naturally — understanding him as an individual, understanding his love of sneaker tradition and understanding our mission of placing sneaker tradition into the arms of extra folks and being extra accessible. Him having a really accessible line of sneakers, simply all the things made sense to work collectively,” stated Ross Adrian Yip, cofounder and chief working officer of Kicks Crew. “Most significantly, I feel he’s very group first. After we talked, he stated let’s deliver some model consciousness and the way about we return to my hometown in an ice cream truck and hook up my group.”
Kicks Crew launched final yr and the app plans to turn out to be a extra community-driven platform past prospects buying merchandise. The platform additionally carries overstock stock from manufacturers like Adidas, Nike, Jordan, New Stability, Yeezy and others.
