The NBA season hasn’t started just yet, but 13 rookies have now inked shoe deals with Nike, with Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller being the headliners.
Full class includes:
• Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs
• Brandon Miller – Charlotte Hornets
• Amen Thompson – Houston Rockets
• Ausar Thompson – Detroit Pistons
• Anthony Black – Orlando Magic
• Kobe Brown – LA Clippers
• Bilal Coulibaly – Washington Wizards
• Keyonte George – Utah Jazz
• Jordan Hawkins – New Orleans Pelicans
• Dereck Lively II – Dallas Mavericks
• Olivier-Maxence Prosper – Dallas Mavericks
• Julian Strawther – Denver Nuggets
• Cason Wallace – OKC Thunder
BREAKING: Nike has signed 13 NBA rookies to shoe deals. 📄✍️
Full class includes:
• Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs
• Brandon Miller – Charlotte Hornets
• Amen Thompson – Houston Rockets
• Ausar Thompson – Detroit Pistons
• Anthony Black – Orlando Magic
• Kobe… pic.twitter.com/S6fqqXSQjP
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) October 23, 2023
I want to make it clear for those who might be a bit confused that these are just shoe deals, and not for signature shoes. Wembanyama, Miller, and the Thompson twins seem like the ones who could one day get that signature shoe.
Nike has really done a good job of securing deals for a big chunk of the lottery picks. They have signed nine of the 14 in Wembanyama (1), Miller (3), Amen Thompson (4), Ausar Thompson (5), Anthony Black (6), Bilal Coulibaly (7), Cason Wallace (10), Dereck Lively II (12), and Jordan Hawkins (14).
As for the rest, Keyonte George went 16th, Olivier-Maxence Prosper was 24th, while Julian Strawther and Kobe Brown were the last two picks of the first round.
Nike really has managed to cover almost all of their bases here. They’ll be hoping that some of them turn into superstars and Wembanyama certainly seems like he will. The 19-year-old averaged 19.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 2.8 blocks per game in the preseason, and if he remains relatively healthy, he is going to be a special player.
Nike Had Signed Michael Jordan On The Same Day He Made His NBA Debut
Signing players before they even played an NBA game is nothing new for Nike, of course. Many credit Michael Jordan for their incredible rise to the top, and they had signed him before he even played an NBA game.
On October 26, 1984, Jordan signed a five-year, $2.5 million deal with Nike, and later that day, he’d make his NBA debut in the game between the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Bullets. It was the biggest shoe deal at the time, and Nike understandably had to take measures to protect itself.
Jordan had to fulfill one of four conditions put forth by Nike, which were to win Rookie of the Year, average 20 points per game, be an All-Star, or sell $4 million worth of shoes in a year. Funnily enough, he accomplished all of that in his rookie season itself.
What About The Rest Of The Lottery Picks?
So, if these are the ones signed with Nike, what about the rest of the lottery picks? Well, Scoot Henderson, who went second overall, signed an annual seven-figure, multi-year deal with Puma last year when he was in the G League. It was the richest contract ever for a non-draft-eligible basketball player, and it’s safe to say they made a good decision.
The eighth pick Jarace Walker has signed with Under Armour, while Jett Howard, who went 11th, has signed with Jordan Brand. 13th pick Gradey Dick, meanwhile, has signed with Adidas. That leaves Taylor Hendricks, who was selected with the ninth pick, as the only lottery selection who has yet to land a shoe deal.
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