The former Nike executive, who gave Michael Jordan the most profitable shoe deal in sports or footwear, believes Caitlin Clark may have received a deal like Michael Jordan did.
Clark and Jordan were in a similar place when they left school, Sonny Vaccaro claimed to TMZ Sports.
” She may have gotten a piece of all merely like Michael Jordan”, he told , TMZ Sports.
At her opening media conference on April 17, 2024, at Indianapolis, Indiana, Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever poses for a picture with Christie Sides and Lin Dunn. ( Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images )
He continued,” She will never be at a higher peak than she was during college this last year in that Final Four.” It will take time for her to become the greatest female player in the world, according to the statement from her.
Vaccaro believes that Clark ultimately received less income than she could own.
” It was so ill handled”, he said. ” I thought they ( the agents ) handled it wrong. I think the reason is she, just like ( Sabrina ) Ionescu and a couple others, ( felt ) obligated to Nike”.
Caitlin Clark,# 22 of the Indiana Fever, poses for a photograph at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during her introductory press conference on April 17, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. ( Matt Kryger/NBAE via Getty Images )
Clark, who signed with Nike in 2022, eventually signed an 8- year deal with the sports apparel giant that could be worth up to$ 28 million.
Vaccaro also suggests that previous name, image, and likeness ( NIL ) deals may have influenced Clark to take less money.
