Footwear News has confirmed with Adidas that L.A. Laker Nick Young is the newest member of its growing basketball team.
Young let the cat out of the bag on Saturday night when he donned Adidas Yeezy Boost 750 high-tops in a game against the Houston Rockets to announce his new sponsorship deal with the athletic brand.
When asked about his sneaker choice, the 30-year-old Laker told the Associated Press, “I just signed with Adidas: Welcome to the three stripes, Swaggy P. And I had to come in with some style, and that’s basically what it’s all about.”
Sneaker blog NiceKicks reported that Young — who was previously unaligned with any particular brand but mainly wore Nikes on the court — has been negotiating on a sneaker deal since earlier in the season. According to the blog, Young came to an agreement with Adidas last week, and Nike declined to match the offer.
Nike has not responded to requests for comment.
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Adidas has been on a signing spree to beef up its NBA roster with more top performers, perhaps to offset a decline in exposure once its league sponsorship winds down in 2017.
Earlier this year, it got into a bidding war with Nike over Houston Rockets guard James Harden, who eventually accepted a 13-year, $200 million offer from Adidas. Other athletes on its roster include Damian Lillard and Derrick Rose.
If Adidas’ goal is to build buzz, Young will be a useful partner for the brand. The nine-year league veteran, who is engaged to Australian pop star Iggy Azalea, has a habit of attracting attention both on and off the court, most recently for his criticism of teammate Kobe Bryant.
No word yet on whether Young’s deal will include a signature sneaker or apparel, but with a nickname like Swaggy P, he’d be sure to bring the swagger.
