Athletes getting equity stake in a company as part of an endorsement deal has become more commonplace including Stephen Curry and Tom Brady with Under Armour, and Kobe Bryant and Mike Trout with BodyArmor. Julius Erving, who had major endorsement deals as an NBA star with Converse and Spalding, remarked on this trend at the recent Inc. 5000 Conference in Phoenix. An ABA legend, Erving increased his popularity during the 1976-77 season, the first after the merger with the NBA, as he helped the 76ers reach the Finals.