Nike’s partnership with the LPL (League of Legends Pro League) is the largest single sportswear deal in esports history. Since 2019, Nike has served as the official apparel and footwear partner of China’s League of Legends league, providing custom uniforms for all 16 LPL teams. This deal dwarfs individual team partnerships in scope and commercial impact.
The Partnership
Nike’s LPL deal was announced in February 2019, making the world’s largest sportswear brand the official supplier for the world’s most-watched esports league. Under the agreement:
- All 16 LPL teams receive Nike-manufactured competition jerseys
- Custom designs are created for each team while maintaining Nike’s athletic construction standards
- Nike footwear is the official on-stage shoe of the league
- Performance innovation from Nike’s sports science is applied to esports athlete gear
Teams like FPX, RNG, Invictus Gaming, JDG, and TOP Esports all compete in Nike-produced jerseys, creating a unified quality standard across the league.
Scale and Impact
The LPL averages hundreds of millions of viewers across a season, making every Nike-branded jersey a massive advertising impression. Unlike Western esports where teams individually negotiate kit deals (adidas with 100T, hummel with Astralis, Fulllife with G2), the LPL model has a single supplier covering the entire league.
This centralized approach means:
- Consistent quality across all teams
- Massive production scale driving down per-unit costs
- Brand uniformity with the Nike Swoosh visible on every broadcast
Nike vs The Competition in Esports
Nike’s esports presence is concentrated almost entirely in China through the LPL deal, plus their footwear partnership with T1 in Korea. By contrast:
| Brand | Primary Esports Partners | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Nike | LPL (all 16 teams), T1 (footwear) | China, Korea |
| adidas | 100 Thieves, FURIA, EWC | NA, BR, Global |
| PUMA | NAVI, Cloud9 (expired) | CIS, NA |
| hummel | Astralis, Vitality (expired) | EU |
| Fulllife | G2, Fnatic, KC, Vitality | EU |
Nike dominates the Asian market while adidas and Fulllife compete in the West.
More Brand Coverage
- JD Gaming 2024 LPL Jersey
- Fulllife: The French Brand Reshaping European Esports Fashion
- 100 Thieves x adidas Originals 2024 Primary Jersey
Where to Buy
Nike LPL jerseys are primarily available through Chinese retail platforms (Taobao, JD.com) and team-specific stores. International availability is limited.
