Panini America, Irving, Texas, announced that it has entered into a long-term exclusive business partnership with Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant.
The agreement includes trading-card, autograph, marketing and business-development aspects, and Durant will serve as a global NBA spokesman for the company.
Durant also will have product-development input for select Panini NBA trading-card products, as well as his memorabilia products through the company.
“Kevin Durant is one of the most recognizable professional athletes in the world but he transcends the game of basketball,” says Mark Warsop, CEO, Panini America. “The way he carries himself on and off the court is as inspirational to us as it is to millions of fans throughout the world. We’re proud to be entering this new exclusive relationship with Kevin and the Panini family and look forward to a bright future with him.”
Durant and his autograph will appear in Panini’s NBA trading-card products and will be part of hobby and mass-retail products.
For more information, visit paniniamerica.net. — J.B.