Each offseason, much of the headlines are about the free agency of players, as well as roster changes made by NBA teams. This summer is no different, as some big names are up for grabs and will test the market.
However, which company players will sign shoe deals with is also something worth keeping an eye on, as it could impact their stock, and also the sneaker and apparel manufacturers. Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is due for a new deal, as his contract with Nike is expiring. There is no guarantee yet that he’ll re-sign with them, as there are some companies expected to pitch to him and are also capable of paying him the amount he’ll command. An annual earning of at least $8 million can be his potential asking price, and according to Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes.com, it can even be as much as $10 million a year.
“Antetokounmpo will also likely be armed with a new shoe deal. He is by far the hottest free agent this summer in the sneaker market and insiders think he could command a deal of at least $8 million annually and potentially over $10 million if everything breaks right.”
The Greek Freak is widely considered one of the best young players in the league and has not even reached his true potential yet. He had his best year as a pro this season with averages of 22.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.9 blocks per game. Only at 22-year-old, he has already been named an All-Star starter and led the Bucks to a playoff appearance as well.
Should he remain with Nike, he may continue to sport some player exclusives of some of their more popular releases like the Nike Zoom Live, which he wore in the postseason. It will also not come as a surprise if he’ll have his own signature kicks soon, especially as he further develops his game and increases his fan following.
Follow Us
Subscribe