Stephen Curry Expands His Global Brand; Unanimous Media Inks Monumental Talent Deal with Comcast NBCUniversal
Dominating on the court can create a lasting legacy in the NBA, but with this generation of athletes, we’ve continuously seen them expand their personal brands and influence outside the confines of an NBA arena. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry are among the notable NBA athletes who have built their brands with expansion into new verticals such as tech and entertainment.
It’s a sound and worthwhile endeavor to grow an athlete’s brand beyond playing on the court, which is ultimately finite. At some point, Stephen Curry will retire as an all-time NBA great, but what he chooses to do after the fact remains in his hands. Curry’s latest move is an indication that he has his sights set on impacting the game of basketball and then some, with the future Hall of Famer inking a massive talent deal unlike never before.
Per Variety, Stephen Curry and his Unanimous Media production label have signed a talent deal with Comcast NBCUniversal, and per the report, it’s a first-of-its-kind partnership not seen before:
“The multi-year template agreement is billed as the media giant’s first-ever “global talent partnership.” It counts a dizzying amount of first-look development opportunities across the company, including: Universal Studio Group for scripted and unscripted TV projects; DreamWorks Animation for kids and family content; creative and on-camera contributions at NBC Sports; opportunities at NBC News Studios, MSNBC and CNBC; Universal Parks and Resorts; and Comcast’s Xfinity brand.”
Per the report, the deal is expected to be valued within the eight-figure range, and given NBCUniversal’s goal of securing talent with a mass appeal, Warriors fans know that Curry and his brand are worth every single penny.
Earlier this summer, Stephen Curry became the first-ever NBA player to sign two $200 million-plus contracts within their playing career, agreeing to a four-year $215 million extension with the Golden State Warriors. The extension was a no-brainer for Curry, who effectively built the Warriors into the global brand and dynasty they are in today’s NBA.
Now, Curry and his Unanimous Media label are ready to build a multimedia brand off the court, one that is not only successful by means of entertainment but also impactful and fulfilling. As Curry himself mentioned of Unanimous’ goal:
“...has always been to create content that is not only entertaining, but also uplifting and inspirational. It’s incredible to imagine all the different ways we can make this vision come to life by incorporating all the amazing assets across Comcast NBCUniversal’s portfolio that has a footprint in all areas of media and entertainment.”
First on the agenda for Curry is NBC Sports’ Ryder Cup, for which he will join and provide coverage of the team golf event. Curry will also help reimagine “The More You Know,” NBCU’s award-winning PSA campaign. Curry will collaborate with EGOT winner John Legend on diversity, equity, and inclusion as it pertains to incorporating each pillar into NBCU’s properties like Peacock. The collaboration is genuine after Curry and his wife Ayesha have already built the Eat Learn Play foundation which services children and families in Oakland, the Bay Area, and the larger country.
The agreement will bring many more brands the opportunity to work with Stephen Curry on a variety of projects, all but assuring Curry will be busy long after his number 30 jersey finds its place in the rafters. Curry’s brand continues to expand and grow, and much like he changed the NBA with his shot beyond the arc, he now has the opportunity to usher in a new era of brand development with his latest innovative partnership.