LSU star and possible 2016 NBA draft No. 1 pick Ben Simmons has shunned Adidas in favor of Nike, following in the footsteps of greats such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
Simmons, 19, narrowed down his sneaker choices between the two giants before making his decision, according to UNINTERRUPTED:
UNINTERRUPTED Exclusive: @BenSimmons25 announces he will be part of the @Nike family.https://t.co/l5B7Xq3uvB
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) June 7, 2016
It’s an unprecedented development for Nike. Though it might come as a surprise to some, Nike usually takes an “L” when going head-to-head with Adidas.
As Shams Charania of The Vertical explained, Adidas is usually more selective with who it chases and does extra to make sure it gets the guys the company wants:
Simmons is choosing Nike’s offer over one from adidas, marking the first time Nike has outbid adidas for a rookie player when only the two companies were involved. Adidas normally offers deals nearly twice the amount of Nike, which was required to increase its proposals for Simmons, sources said.
Simmons is worth the investment, to say the least. At 6’10” and 240 pounds, the former LSU standout is as pro ready as it gets in the 2016 class thanks to his versatility as a 2-way player and ability to slash and score or dish to others. What really sets Simmons above everyone else and locks him in something of a battle with Duke’s Brandon Ingram, though, is the upside.
While he averaged 19.2 points and 11.8 rebounds as a freshman, Simmons only knocked down 33 percent of his shots from deep. Given the player he can become, it’s not hard to see why many think Simmons could rank among the league’s best by the time he hits his prime.
Nike sees this potential and coughed up the cash, planting Simmons alongside greats such as James and Durant. Now sneakerheads just have to hope Nike and Simmons cook up something smooth for the shoe game.
