Nikola Jokic embraces his new partnership with Chinese brand 361, stating, “I am really happy with the relationship right now that I have with them; they are really trying to make the shoes as comfortable as possible.”

The star player for the Denver Nuggets, Nikola Jokic, has signed a multi-year deal with 361 to be their trademark shoe, extending his role as the Chinese brand’s international ambassador.

In doing so, he breaks with his former affiliation with Nike and teams up with teammate Aaron Gordon, who already has a signature shoe deal with the same company.

Gordon, currently on the fourth edition of his 361 signature shoes, is setting the stage for Jokic to potentially unveil his own line.

Jokic acknowledged the influence of Gordon in his decision.

“He [Aaron Gordon] influenced a lot. I mean, they [361 brand] were really direct with me, and they were really honest,” Jokic told ViaggioSport. “I talked with AG about everything, and he said to me that they are really good and quick and really listen to you. I am really happy with the relationship that I have right now with them.

“I don’t even know how long it [the deal] is, but they are really trying to make the shoes as comfortable as possible. They are asking me after every practice, after every game. I really like the communication that we have right now.”

The Chinese sports brand 361 Degrees has been around for 20 years and has about 6,000 locations in China and 3,000 more outlets worldwide.