Blazers guard Damian Lillard has re-upped with adidas, reportedly signing the third largest sneaker deal in the NBA. Since originally signing Lillard in 2012, adidas has released player exclusive models in the Real Deal, Crazy 8, Crazy 1, and Crazyquick 2.0. Will we see a signature model in the future for Lillard? Hit the comments below and voice your opinion.
Happy to be a member of the @adidasHoops family for years to come #ThreeStripeLife #Teamadidas http://t.co/2PCkPY32GV pic.twitter.com/cGBnepcWeZ
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) April 14, 2014
PORTLAND, Ore. (April 14, 2014) – adidas today announced a long-term partnership extension with NBA All-Star point guard Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers. The young star will continue to be an integral part of adidas Basketball’s marketing campaigns, product launches and global initiatives moving forward.
“adidas has been great to me over my first two seasons,” said Lillard. “I’ve had the opportunity to wear a lot of great product, help design special versions of shoes, be a part of TV commercials and travel the world with the brand. I’m excited for what the future holds for me and adidas.”
Lillard’s dedication to basketball brought immediate success in his young NBA career, including being named the unanimous Kia NBA Rookie of the Year. This season, Lillard took another step forward, earning a spot on the Western Conference NBA All-Star team where he also became the first player to complete in all five events at All-Star weekend. Lillard’s improvement has led to team success, as the Trail Blazers have clinched a playoff spot in the tough Western Conference for the first time in three seasons.
“Damian has proven to be not only an amazing basketball player, but a great partner, member of the community and someone who creates excitement for our products,” said Chris Grancio, adidas head of global basketball sports marketing. “His leadership and commitment to success on the court and his ability to interact and relate to fans through social media and the community make him the perfect fit to be one of the cornerstones of the adidas brand.”
After being overlooked by large collegiate programs coming out of high school in Oakland, Calif., Lillard attended Weber State University where he excelled for three seasons. Lillard quickly raised his draft status in 2012 where he was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth overall pick. Lillard is currently averaging 21 points, six assists and four rebounds per game for the Trail Blazers.
Other adidas athletes include Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, WNBA MVP Candace Parker and FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi FC Barcelona.
About adidas
adidas has been providing innovative products for the world’s best athletes for more than 60 years, from past legends to today’s superstars, such as Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, Candace Parker, Tim Duncan and Damian Lillard. adidas outfits the best basketball players in the world as the official uniform and apparel provider for the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the NBA Development League (D-League) along with top collegiate basketball programs including Kansas, Baylor, Michigan, Louisville and Wisconsin.
Where the shoes at? Boost them out Adidas!
Long term contract has to mean that a DAME sig line is coming soon.
An people thought he was leaving them….called it on that post NW had in-which everyone’s company was listed.
SUCK IT DRY BABY!!!! YEAHHHH
Not sure what Adidas are doing. It’s OK that they’ve signed him, no problem with that, but 3rd largest shoe contract in the NBA? I’m not sure that he’s worth that kind of money.
The guy’s team hasn’t even been in the playoffs yet (while he’s been on it) and we have no idea how he will perform. If you’re going to sign someone to that kind of money, I really think that it’s a questionable move if they haven’t shown anything in the playoffs yet. I guess we’ll have to wait and see how Lillard performs when the lights get brighter.
I’m from Portland and I didn’t think that he deserved that much. These endorsement deals are always risky in my opinion and Lillard was successful so early so maybe adidas thought he was worth the risk.
Now we have to see a Sig line of shoes for dame. I’m glad for him, but now he will be pressured to perform at an mvp level every game, which from watching ‘zers games this season, there was a couple he didn’t show up
He has to step it up on the defensive end, but then again , then league has less and less two-way players. Far is the number of money he got, it’s not my money so I don’t care. I will say that Adidas is smart, because if you remember rose got a fat check, but his check was put on a diet due to him not preforming. I can promise you, there’s a clause in there for if he just hits the wall.
That said, bring on the sig shoe baby YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Yeahhhhhhhhh! lol
I definitely agree. That last Golden State game was a pretty bad one for Dame. I guess him being complacent just shows that he’s human after all.
No NBA player will perform better are worth because of some endorsment deal. There are so many distractions in life but once u step on the court u give your 100% everytime. And he does that, He is a winner no doubt. He’ll have to deal so much bigger things during his NBA run and he’ll have to avoid it. I think it will only do him good.
Meanwhile Nike keeps sleeping on Kyrie….