After Under Armour’s CEO, Kevin Plank announced, “Good things coming” with Curry Brand, no one expected it to happen so soon! The Warriors legend Stephen Curry is in Chengdu, China, and the Asians are going all out to welcome the Chef to their homeland. Wondering why? The Splash Brother’s exclusive UA brand is going international, as they will be opening retail stores in China. It is a significant move, especially after he clinched the feat of China’s best-selling jersey in 2017.
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However, a year later, in 2018, LeBron James took the crown from the Golden Boy. While that might’ve led to speculation regarding the fan following of the Warrior in China, the recent warm welcome from the masses has left the legend flattered! Expressing his emotions on Instagram, Stephen Curry posted a snippet with the caption, “Unreal welcome for our first Curry Brand Tour. Let’s go!” With this, it just seems he is on a mission to cement his legacy once and for all.
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It is somewhat surprising, but basketball and its players haven’t established their fan following in China, considering the game has been in the nation since the 1890s. Only 7-foot-6-inch Chinese star Yao Ming, who was once named ‘China’s most influential athlete’, and Kobe Bryant acquired the privilege of being ‘the faces’ there. And to add to the surprise, Bryant’s jersey was China’s highest-selling jersey for most of this decade before Steph Curry’s takeover, surpassing even Yao.
Passing on the baton to Steph, as per an official report via the NBA itself in April, the Splash Brother’s jersey is the most popular in the league, holding the feat for the second straight season. Following this, it might be safe to say that the sharpshooter is walking on the tracks left by Kobe Bryant to be a household name in China with his brand’s upcoming launch. Wondering how?
Stephen Curry is likely the successor after Kobe Bryant- a bridge between the NBA and China!
Kobe Bryant was always active regarding official visits to China. He did it every offseason and attended every store opening in China under his name. The Asia Society even appointed him the Cultural Ambassador in 2009 in the presence of Communist Party politician and sports director Liu Peng. After his retirement, the Black Mamba made sure to be in touch with the country’s culture and fan following as he held camps to teach basketball while visiting classic sites like Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an.
The Lakers legend had so much love for his Asian fan following that he established the Kobe Bryant China Fund. It was a source of supplies for poor children. In the USA, this fund sponsored activities like Mandarin-language lessons and cooking classes. All in all, Bryant was a fan of the Chinese culture. And it all started with the opening of retail stores. Now, it seems Stephen Curry has just stepped into Kobe Bryant’s shoes to deliver more than he did during his lifetime, continuing the legacy of giving back to society.
