SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
MANILA, Philippines – The first day of October marked the beginning of of a 13-year, $200 million deal between giant global shoe brand Adidas and its newest poster boy, Houston Rockets superstar James Harden.
The first day of that partnership was highlighted when Adidas literally sent a truckload full of new shoes to Harden’s home, surprising the 26-year-old and leaving him at a loss for words.
Watch the clip below:
“Doing what’s expected isn’t enough for me. I’ve taken chances to put myself in a position to be successful and I’m hungry for more. I want to be true to who I am, even if that means taking risks or doing things different from the status quo or what other people expect,” Harden said in a press release by Adidas.
The shoe brand also represents other notable NBA athletes, namely Damian Lillard of the Trail Blazers, Derrick Rose of the Bulls, John Wall of the Wizards, Ricky Rubio of the Timberwolves, and Justise Winslow of the Heat.
(WATCH: Highlights of Ricky Rubio in Manila)
“Wanting to be the best – that comes with hard work, focus and making sure I’m always growing my game. It’s a credit to my time in Houston and I’m just trying to enjoy the moment, but I still have to remember how I got here and all the hard work it took,” said Harden, who averaged 27.4 points, 7.0 assists, and 5.7 rebounds a game last season. The Arizona State product has been named to the All-NBA First Team in the past two seasons.
“After meeting with adidas I knew we could create something people won’t see coming. They want to celebrate me for who I am and what I stand for. They want to help me be closer to my fans, tell my story and make incredible products together. This is my chance to do something that can’t be done anywhere else,” said Harden.
In an article released by ESPN, he said that having a say in how he’s marketed by Adidas was another huge reason why he chose to sign with the brand.
Harden used to represent Nike, who also has multiple stars under contract like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Paul George, and Kyrie Irving.
“Just everything, however I want it, I have a say-so,” Harden said after a Rockets practice. “I have a voice that can and will be heard. I have a pretty strong voice, whether it’s designing my shoe, designing my clothing, just everything, everything that the brand has to offer. I’ll definitely voice my opinion.”
Harden will be wearing the Crazylight Boost 2015 for the upcoming NBA season that commences on October 28. Many sneakerheads on social media are expecting Adidas will release a signature shoe for Harden next year.
The Rockets, who made the Western Conference Finals last season and acquired Ty Lawson during this offseason, will open their 2015-2016 campaign against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, October 29. – Rappler.com
Functional yet fashionable shoes from Adidas are a top-of-mind choice for many. Check out deals here and score your own pair today.
Add a comment
How does this make you feel?
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.