Panini Wooing Durant?

 Content Originally Published by Sports Collectors Daily on April 13th, 2010.

A report out of Oklahoma City says Panini America has started talks with Thunder star Kevin Durant about becoming the face of Panini Basketball.

The Daily Oklahoman reports that Panini  “recently visited Durant and his representatives in Oklahoma City” and that “a deal could be finalized soon” for Durant to become the man whose face would appear on basketball card packaging.  Presumably, autographs would also be a part of the plan.

Durant already has endorsement deals with Nike and Gatorade.  Kobe Bryant is the company’s current pitch man.

Panini is also facing some corporate issues of a different type, however.

The company is  being sued by Gene Kelly’s widow over the production of cards featuring the star of “Singin’ in the Rain”.  The famous dance man’s heir says the contract that Donruss/Panini had to produce a memorabilia card isn’t valid.

Patricia Ward Kelly claims MODA, the company that approached Kelly never got her permission and instead forged her signature on the contract.