Nike may have signed the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft in Ben Simmons, but Adidas on Tuesday added five of the league’s most sought-after picks to its roster.
In a statement released by the brand today, the Germany-based label announced it has signed Brandon Ingram (Duke University) — who has also been mentioned as a possible No. 1 pick — as well as Jaylen Brown (University of California, Berkeley), Jamal Murray (University of Kentucky), Dragan Bender (Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Super League) and Kris Dunn (Providence College).
“Our playbook is simple — partner with the best players and use their insights to change the game and connect with young athletes,” Chris Grancio, GM of Adidas Global Basketball, said in a statement. “It’s no secret that at Adidas players have a voice to share ideas and insights that will create the best basketball gear in the world. We’re proud to welcome them to our family, and we look forward to getting started.”
Adidas said its latest crop of sponsored ballers would play a collaborative and instrumental role in providing performance insights to help build new footwear and apparel, and would also be featured in upcoming brand campaigns, activations and global tours.
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The 2016 NBA Draft presented by State Farm is set to take place Thursday at 7 p.m. ET at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
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