Los Angeles Lakers rising star Kyle Kuzma may not be a sneaker free agent for long.
According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, there are rumblings in China that sneaker brand Puma is closing in on a deal to sign the Lakers youngster to a shoe deal.
Hearing some buzz from the shoe game since arriving in China: Puma is closing in on a deal to sign the Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma .. who was forced to withdraw from Team USA last month with an ankle injury
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 11, 2019
Kuzma was previously with Nike and even helped the sports apparel giant introduce the self-lacing Adapt BB sneakers. However, his rookie shoe deal expired this summer, allowing him to explore the market.
Puma is trying to re-enter the basketball shoe scene, and the company has been aggressive so far. They have signed a number of young NBA players to shoe endorsement deals, including Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, Michael Porter Jr. and RJ Barrett — this year's No. 3 overall pick with the New York Knicks.
Kuz could fit nicely with the current crop of Puma endorsers. As a late first-round pick in 2017, Kuzma quickly established himself as one of the best scorers and most promising players in the league. In his first two years in the NBA, he has averaged 18.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
The 24-year-old forward signed with CAA last month for his on- and off-court representation, and Kuzma and his camp made it clear their priority is finding a shoe deal for the young Laker. Nike and Jordan Brand were also reportedly interested in signing Kuzma.
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