Adidas Offers James Harden $200 Million Endorsement Deal to Leave Nike
Houston Rockets star James Harden is about to be an even richer man.
The latest reports revealed that Adidas has offered the 2015 NBA MVP runner up a 13-year, $200 million deal. Nike, who signed an endorsement deal with Harden previously, has until the end of the week to match or up this offer.
"We've invited James Harden to join Adidas," said Adidas spokesman Michael Ehrlich in a statement. "We're a brand of creators and he truly embodies what that means with his approach to the game, his look and his style on and off the court. He's coming off a historic season where he won the scoring title and was voted MVP by his peers. His connection with fans is unparalleled and unprecedented and he can take the game, our brand and the industry to new heights."
If Harden agrees to sign the deal, which includes incentives, the point guard could end up making more money from endorsing Adidas than from playing basketball. He signed an $80 million contract extension in 2012 that ends after the 2017-18 season.
Adidas has not had much luck with its previous endorsement deals. In 2012, Adidas signed a 14-year deal with the Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose, who ended up getting injured. Adidas' other endorsers, Portland Trail Blazers Damien Lillard and Washington Wizards John Wall, have fallen relatively flat.
Adidas announced earlier this year that the company would not be renewing its deal with the NBA. Adidas has been the official uniform supplier for the NBA for the past decade. Starting in 2016-17, Nike will be taking over.
Adidas is currently the No. 3 best-selling apparel brand in the United States after Nike and Under Armour.
Harden currently is seventh on the NBA popular jersey list after Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Rose, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson and Kobe Bryant, from first place to sixth.
