With footwear company AND1 hoping to make a glorious comeback in the basketball kicks scene, the California-based brand has been making some relatively big moves of late. Their latest major investment comes in the form of a shoe deal with Los Angeles Clippers big man Montrezl Harrell.
AND1, a brand that made its name in the industry in the early 2000s, is hoping to make it big again. More than a decade ago, the brand was thriving and had huge names like Stephon Marbury, Latrell Sprewell, and Kevin Garnett, to name a few, on their roster. However, it almost vanished from existence, and only recently came back from the dead.
AND1 has a very specific type of profile for the players it signs, and Harrell's high-energy, no non-sense type of play definitely fits the bill. He is not exactly a superstar-caliber player, but is definitely one that is loved by the crowd.
Last season, in his fourth year in the league, the 25-year-old played a pivotal role in the Clippers' overachieving season. Harrell played in all 82 games for his team, averaging 16.6 points (on 61.5 percent shooting), 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.3 blocks in 26.3 minutes off the bench for L.A. The former 32nd overall pick was such a revelation this season that he was able to force himself into the Most Improved Player conversation.
Harrell will be entering a contract year this season, and odds are, he will be out to prove that he deserves a big money deal in the summer.