CNBC’s Darren Rovell reported on USA Basketball’s team photo and the Nike controversy earlier this week. The controversy surrounds Dwight Howard, the only member of team USA not individually sponsored by Team USA sponsor Nike. The team photo, shown above, lines the entire squad up by height with Coach K sitting in a chair at the end. Not exactly your standard basketball team photo.
The way the photo is arranged conveniently hides the famous Nike swoosh on Howard’s shorts as he gets to hold the ball at his side with his hand hanging down over his shorts. Further fueling the controversy is the positioning of Coach K’s foot. His left foot is in front of Superman’s shoes, further covering up evidence of Nike. I love good conspiracy theories and this one certainly makes sense, but if this was all intentional, then why is the Nike Swoosh visible on D-Ho’s right shoulder? He could have faced straight ahead like almost all the other players and not shown that Swoosh at all.
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Ya this could work as conspiracy but then everyone would have to know that D-Wade and Melo are not directly sponsored by Nike, but rather their Nike-owned brands (Converse and Jordan, respectively).