After inking a deal in 2011 with the NBA, Sprint refused to renew a sponsorship with the NBA worth 4 years and $222 million. This cut-off comes shortly after the third largest mobile carrier ended its masquerade with NASCAR, which both were in partnership since the beginning of the 21st century.
The NBA has tried to court Sprint into remaining a part of the league’s corporate sponsors by hosting Sprint President and CEO Marcelo Claure during the NBA Finals.
Currently, Sprint competitor, T-Mobile, is in its third and final year of sponsorship with the MLB, and while T-Mobile is accustomed monogamy in the same respect, it has considered talks with the NBA (of which the “uncarrier” resumed that duty from 2005 to 2011).
Amidst all the discussions concerning what mobile carrier the NBA will choose, AT&T – it seems – is a front-runner, due to Verizon’s presence in the NFL and the Indy Car Series.
2013 NBA Sponsors and Categories
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
