Expected NBA Draft No. 1 selection DeAndre Ayton may have made the second-largest financial move of this week, signing a multi-year shoe and apparel deal with Puma, according to ESPN's Nick DePaula.
Ayton's deal is expected to be the highest-paid player of this draft class in an annual basis, per Michael Scotto of The Athletic.
The brand has been largely out of the basketball world for the past 20 years, since a young Vince Carter first sported them in 1998, later on switching to Nike and the Shox series.
The Barbados native seems to be an entertaining individual, not only due to his character and multiple personalities, but the sheer confidence he exudes on and off the court.
“Puma is pretty popular in the Bahamas,” Ayton said. “I've always seen the brand growing up. [Usain Bolt] is one of the first people I saw with the brand. It's important to me that someone I identify with and admire as an athlete is with the same brand.”
@PUMA Life’s Good pic.twitter.com/VxkLMDhnlq
— Deandre Ayton (@DeandreAyton) June 18, 2018
Puma has also signed endorsement deals with some of the most popular stars in the entertaining business, including rapper Jay-Z and pop star Rihanna.
“As I've been in the States, I've seen what they do with entertainers and always liked that,” Ayton said. “I see someone like Rihanna recently — who is a lot like me, we have a similar background — and she's putting her stamp on the brand. That's something that appeals to me from a creative side. Eventually I want to be a part of bringing this new style of Puma to my people.”
If indeed drafted with the No. 1 pick, Ayton will be the flag-bearer for this brand, who has already signed the likes of Marvin Bagley III and Zhaire Smith; two members of his draft class, along with the announcement that the brand will give legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier, the original Puma icon, a lifetime contract.
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