Gatorade’s primary ingredients are water, rapidly absorbed carbohydrates (a sucrose-dextrose blend), and key electrolytes (salt, citrate, phosphate)—plus acids, flavorings, colorings, and stabilizers to improve taste and shelf-life. But that obviously comes at a risk- especially to an athlete. If anything, the fact that they’re NBA’s official sponsors is for the money alone. So you could guess what Stephen Curry’s actions would’ve done to the energy drink brand.
Before his presser, Steph saw two bottles of Gatorade on the table. “Nah, PLEZi’s way better. I ain’t never even seen this before,” said the Chef as he put the bottles under the table. His part seems to be more due to his connection to PLEZi Hydration, a new sports drink launched in partnership with Michelle Obama. PLEZi enter the scene as direct rivals to Gatorade, so can you really blame Curry for his actions?
What’s funny is that Kawhi Leonard did the same just a few days ago. But his actions more due to maintaining a healthy image for athletes. He was literally heard saying “Take those Gatorades down, kids don’t need to be drinking that” as he put the bottles down. The fans loved it. And then they remembered- this isn’t Leonard’s first tussle with NBA’s official drink sponsor.
Lmao Steph put away the gatorades before his presser began pic.twitter.com/cyWkW9TEmb
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) April 27, 2025
He put down a bottle on the podium after the 2020 All-Star Game, and said “Not sponsored by Gatorade.” But there’s a deeper connection with the Klaw and Gatorade, which might share a bit of Steph’s notion with it too, as he is a board member and partner of X2 Performance, a natural energy drink brand.
Second time this week- the Gatorade image takes a dive into the deep end. But the second stab hurts more. Why? Because it’s Stephen Curry doing the damage. And the fact that this comes right after Kawhi Leonard doesn’t seem to look good for the global energy drink company. They face the same fate their rivals did a few years ago.
Kawhi Leonard and Stephen Cury’s actions force fall in Pepsico stock
Soccer ultras would remember Cristiano Ronaldo doing the same for a Coca-Cola bottle. Back during the 2020 Euros, Ronaldo was seen visibly frustrated with two bottles of the soda company kept on his table during a presser. Ronaldo, an advocate of a healthy diet, moved the glass bottles out of the camera frame and instead held up a bottle of water and said in Portuguese: “Water!” Any guesses to what happened next? Their share price dropped by 1.6% to $55.22, while their market value went from $242 billion to $238 billion- a $4bn drop.
Gatorade’s parent company Pepsico’s market value a whopping $15.6 trillion dollars. Within the space of a day, that value fell by 1.43%. Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard might not be global superstars like Ronaldo. But the American beverage and food company is bound to be hurt by athletes of their own, right?
Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Any surprise to see the events that transpired? Two different reasonings, one reaction- and one outcome. Gatorade will really have to work their PRs overtime to come out of this in one piece. And this could require NBA Commissioner Adam Silver running around for new drink sponsors. How’s this for an idea: PLEZi Hydration?
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