Darren Heitner

NCAA athletes began signing deals on July 1 to monetize their name, image and likeness (NIL) after a new NCAA ruling opened the door for endorsements. One of the many deals announced that day was Haley Cavinder and Hanna Cavinder, twin basketball players from Fresno State signed a deal with...

San Francisco 49ers defensive back Richard Sherman took a gamble when he negotiated his own contract and loaded it up with incentive pay instead of a high guaranteed amount. After an excellent season, Sherman will collect more than $4 million in incentive pay for making Pro Bowl and All-Pro rosters...

Skechers USA Inc (NYSE: SKX) is no stranger to legal battles with its footwear competitors. Its latest dispute is with Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE), after the world’s largest sportswear company alleged Skechers ripped off two of its most popular shoe models, the VaporMax and AirMax 270. In a patent...

Have you ever wanted to invest in an NBA player's future? It might be possible in the upcoming season.  Spencer Dinwiddie, a Brooklyn Nets point guard, is planning to securitize his NBA contract in the form of a digital token asset tied to his three-year, $34 million contract extension....

The 2019 NBA offseason has seen just about everything. Short of what will happen to Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder, there's just one thing that we've yet to hear announced before the season starts. What shoe company will Zion Williamson sign with ahead his rookie...

Shaquille O’Neal buying Reebok from Adidas AG (OTC: ADDYY)? It could be just what the struggling footwear brand needs to reinvigorate itself. The NBA Hall of Famer recently told CNBC he would “love to buy Reebok," the first brand to endorse him during his playing days....

As if going up against the Golden State Warriors was not enough, Kawhi Leonard is going up against another proverbial giant, his former endorser Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE). The Toronto Raptors superstar filed a lawsuit against the athletic apparel giant in Southern California this week in an attempt...

After the Alliance of American Football league's closure, attention is shifting to the XFL’s expected 2020 launch. Long-term success is incredibly hard to achieve, and while the AAF appeared to garner some momentum at its onset, the failure of the league serves as a cautionary tale...

Michael Avenatti levying accusations against Nike Inc (NASDAQ: NKE) of breaking NCAA rules is surely one of the strangest stories we have seen this year — and it's only April.  Powell: 'He Must Have Some Proof'  Sports analyst Matt Powell of the NPD Group tells Benzinga...

Zion Williamson is one of the biggest things to happen to college basketball in recent memory. The Duke superstar is undoubtedly going to sign the biggest endorsement deal in quite some time, but one sneaker expert said if he were running Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE), he would pass on the opportunity to...

Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE)'s Zion Williamson debacle sure blew over fast. Just under two weeks after the exploding shoe incident, the company was named the most valuable apparel brand by Brand Finance and shares hit all-time high territory. Although Williamson’s injury related to his Nike...

NFL draft prospect Rashan Gary aims to make a long-lasting impact on the sport before ever turning pro.  What Happened Gary, a University of Michigan defensive tackle, said he's starting his own sports agency, Rashan Gary Sports, ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft. Gary, who is expected...

It was a year of comebacks and new beginnings in the sports world. Legal Sports Betting  Led by New Jersey, the reversal of PAPSA in 2018 — the federal ban on sports betting — laid the groundwork for states to unveil legalized gambling, forever changing the landscape of...

With the NBA season officially underway, all eyes will be on LeBron James and the new-look Los Angeles Lakers. Many have called James' decision move to the West Coast as much of a business decision as it was a basketball decision, as the superstar looks to expand his media empire and compete...

Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE) cemented its relationship with Colin Kaepernick as a brand ambassador after doubling down on the controversial ex-NFL star by featuring him in an upcoming commercial. What To Know The advertisement is a part of a greater campaign celebrating the 30-year anniversary of "...