What kind of kicks does an Asian American basketball star rock? Adidas, apparently. The Jeremy Lin shoe rumors are true. Your favorite point guard has signed an endorsement deal with adidas.
Jeremy Lin signs shoe deal with Adidas.
Jeremy Lin has parted ways with Nike to sign a new deal with sneaker rival adidas. Dollar details of the deal aren't being reported, but it must have been pretty sweet to woo him from the shoe giant, which dominates the global basketball shoe/apparel market. Can we expect a new line of Linsanity sneakers?
Jeremy joins fellow Houston Rockets star Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls as an adidas pitchman. No doubt, they probably have big plans to use Jeremy in their international marketing efforts.
Here's the press release from adidas:
ADIDAS SIGNS NBA SUPERSTAR JEREMY LINThis is great news for Jeremy, though adidas might want to do a little bit of Googling before calling him the first Asian American player in the NBA. That distinction belongs to Wat Misaka.
adidas today announced a partnership with NBA point guard Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets.
“I’m really excited to join the adidas family,” said Lin. “They’ve changed the game with new technology and style and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Lin joins the adidas basketball roster which includes teammate and seven-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard and a lineup of elite point-guards highlighted by Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, John Wall of the Washington Wizards and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers.
"Jeremy's relentless drive, passion for the game and background of leading winning teams throughout his career makes him a perfect fit for the adidas brand,” said Chris Grancio, adidas head of global basketball sports marketing.
Unheralded as a high school player, undrafted from Harvard University and cut twice from NBA rosters, Lin made global headlines when he led the New York Knicks to an improbable seven game winning streak in February 2012. Dubbed “Linsanity,” his rise to stardom was fueled by elite playmaking ability and clutch shooting as he became the only NBA player in modern history to tally 20 points and seven assists in his first five starts.
The first Asian-American player in the NBA, Lin joined the Houston Rockets in 2012 and has helped them become one of the Western Conference’s top teams while averaging over 14 points, four assists and two rebounds per game this season.
Lin will be featured in a variety of upcoming adidas marketing initiatives and will play a role in the development of basketball footwear and apparel.
More here: Jeremy Lin Signs Adidas Endorsement Accord After Nike Deal Ends