Heading into the 2023-24 season, the NBA’s most recent MVP, Joel Embiid, is making big strides on a potential new sneaker deal. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Embiid is nearing a deal with Sketchers to become the face of their brand-new basketball division.
“Joel Embiid is nearing a deal to become Skechers’ star pitchman,” wrote Shams. “He wore a Skechers shoe for the first time during 76ers practice Wednesday with the brand’s performance staff on site as he begins to test out the sneaker, sources said. According to a source, Embiid will begin wearing the new Skechers shoe in games once the deal is complete.”
In the NBA, most stars gravitate toward one of three brands: Nike, Adidas, or Under Armour. Some, like Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving, play for more exclusive groups like Anta and New Balance. Now, Embiid will add a new company to the list as he will soon become the only player in the NBA to represent the Sketchers brand.
A Massive Win For Sketchers
As the reigning NBA MVP, Joel Embiid is a massive get for Sketchers. Founded in 1992, Sketchers is still pretty young compared to other companies in the industry, but they still count as a massive success given their classification as the third largest footwear brand in the United States. Mostly, Sketchers specializes in comfort wear, which is why they’ve been highly recommended for people with regular foot problems.
But now, it seems that the company may be heading in a new direction. And according to Shams, Embiid isn’t the only one expected to join the Sketchers family. Over the next few weeks and months, we could see other players announce a similar partnership, including potentially Julius Randle and Terance Mann. So with several prominent athletes ready to represent the brand, Sketchers is set to make its mark on the NBA landscape one way or another. Only time will tell if they can keep up with Nike and other brands.
Joel Embiid Steps Into The Unknown
For Embiid, fans are eager to see what kind of products will come from his deal with Sketchers but that’s probably the last thing on his mind right now. As Embiid prepares to enter a brand new season, the 76ers are facing much uncertainty about the ongoing conflict between Daryl Morey and star guard James Harden. Amid the brutal war, things have gotten personal, with Harden going so far as to call Morey a “liar” over failed contract negotiations.
Meanwhile, Embiid has had no choice but to sit back and watch it all unfold. After averaging a career-high 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game last season, he did everything he could to get his team a title and they still fell short in the end. Without a proper co-star this time around, it’s hard to picture a better outcome in 2024, but it won’t stop Embiid from going all-in. In fact, no matter what the situation is in Philly this season, the star big man will be ready to put the Sixers on his back, just like he’s done in each of his six All-Star seasons so far.
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