Louis Vuitton, NBA Slam-Dunk Multiyear DealLouis Vuitton, NBA Slam-Dunk Multiyear Deal

The NBA and Louis Vuitton have entered a multiyear partnership that will result in a capsule collection of apparel and accessories designed by Vuitton menswear creative director Virgil Abloh.

“We have done other collaborations with other fashion houses before, but nothing at this level and at this scale,” Mark Tatum, deputy commissioner, NBA, told WWD. “We know from social media that our fans follow that and are big fans of the Louis Vuitton brand. We know that they’re going to be excited about this new partnership and collaboration. The NBA is the most international league and most-followed league globally of any sports league, so it’s obviously a natural between the NBA and Vuitton.”

The French fashion house will be hosting a cocktail event at its flagship store in Paris to celebrate the collaboration and reveal the exclusive travel case made for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, which goes to the NBA finals winner every June.

The partnership between the two marks Vuitton’s first partnership with a North American sports league, although the fashion brand has secured many other sports deals in the past. Vuitton has produced trophy cases for the FIFA World Cup, the Roland-Garros tennis tournament, the America’s Cup and the Rugby World Cup. The brand has also extended into e-sports via its partnership with Riot Games, maker of “League of Legends.”

“If it’s a trophy that people dedicate their entire lives to, if it’s a trophy that represents overcoming adversity and striving for perfection on a multiyear journey, then it’s a trophy we’re interested in, because those are the same values that Vuitton has,” says Michael Burke, chairman and chief executive officer, Louis Vuitton.