Nike Back to Being Favorites to Sign Zion Williamson to First NBA Shoe Deal
By Robert Duff in College Basketball
Updated: December 19, 2022 at 3:36 pm ESTPublished:
- Sportsbooks favor Nike to sign Zion Williamson to an NBA shoe contract
- The Duke star suffered a knee injury earlier this season when his Nike shoe exploded as he planted his foot on the floor
- Original odds had Adidas as Williamson’s likely shoe supplier
If the shoe fits, wear it? But which shoe company’s footwear will prove to be the best fit for Duke Blue Devils superstar Zion Williamson?
Currently on ESPN: How massive will Zion’s shoe deal be?
The actual Final Four is in three days.
— Zips (@zipsofakron) April 3, 2019
Michigan State beat Duke in the Elite Eight stage of the NCAA Tournament. That freed Williamson, the prohibitive favorite to be selected first overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, to turn his attention from March Madness to shoe madness.
Nike is favored to get Williamson’s name on a shoe contract to begin his NBA career.
Which Brand Will Sign Zion Williamson to an NBA Shoe Contract?
| Which Shoe Brand Will Sign Zion Williamson? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Nike | -150 |
| Adidas | +175 |
| Puma | +400 |
| Under Armour | +2000 |
| New Balance | +2500 |
*Odds taken on 04/03/19
The original odds on this prop favored Adidas to be the footwear manufacturer that would succeed in inking Williamson to an NBA contract to wear their product.
Shoe Him the Money
It’s expected that Williamson’s shoe deal will exceed $100 million, surpassing the rookie record $87-million pact LeBron James signed with Nike when he turned pro in 2003.
Many expect Zion to command a Top 3 rookie shoe deal, near LeBron’s $87 Million & KD’s $60 Million deals with Nike.
Both of those deals were negotiated by Aaron Goodwin of @GoodwinSports. They took less to sign with Nike — Reebok offered LeBron $100Mil + a $10Mil signing bonus. https://t.co/w9jOBgNQ3n
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) April 1, 2019
The anticipated bidding war between Nike and Adidas will be the driver behind this price surge.
🤑 @ZionW32 pic.twitter.com/MTxNYKj2vv
— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) April 1, 2019
Former Nike, Reebok, and Adidas executive Sonny Vaccaro predicted to ESPN that Williamson’s package will be a once-in-a-lifetime footwear deal for a pro athlete.
What the Stars are Wearing
Nike landed James and also paid Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors $60 million for a sneaker deal when he turned pro.
.@KingJames wearing the next LeBron Watch 16 “Air Trainer” tonight. pic.twitter.com/V525MyG1MX
— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) March 30, 2019
Durant’s Golden State teammate Stephen Curry, whose shoes are the no. 3 seller among NBA players, left Nike for Under Armour in 2013 on a deal that pays him a reported $4 million a year, runs through 2024 and includes equity in the company.
.@StephenCurry30 is 🔒ed-in on bringing a 4️⃣th championship to The Bay. The latest colorway of his signature shoe represents his dedication to the fan base that supports him. #RuinTheGame in the #Curry6 “Dub Nation” Friday. 🔵 #WEWILL pic.twitter.com/PXhWypVXqd
— Under Armour (@UnderArmour) April 2, 2019
Reigning NBA MVP James Harden wears Adidas after signing a 13-year deal in 2015 that pays him over $15 million a year.
Zion’s Big Explosion
You’d think that after his Nike shoe exploded during a game this season against North Carolina, resulting in a knee injury that cost the 6-foot-7, 285-pound Williamson five games, he’d be looking elsewhere for footwear.
But Nike designed him a new shoe to wear upon his return and he had no issue with his footwear the remainder of the season.
Why Nike Will Still Win Out
Quite simply, they remain the footwear that is most popular with the young stars of pro basketball.
A footwear study conducted by USA Today during last season’s Las Vegas Summer League revealed that 385 of the 519 players involved in the loop were wearing Nikes.
Killas Kill. @ZionW32 wearing the custom Nike Kyrie 4 in the Elite 8. pic.twitter.com/oMXBU9dv9K
— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) March 31, 2019
Adidas sneakers (92) were a distant second, followed by Under Armour (18).
Nike remains the brand that the NBA stars wear and that’s why it will be the brand that Zion wears in the NBA.
Pick: Nike (-150)
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
