Not long after his final game at Duke, shoe brands prepared to make their best pitch to soon-to-be No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson, who would land with the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2019 NBA Draft. Puma, which had just resurfaced last season by signing top overall pick Deandre Ayton, along with several familiar NBA faces, intended to make this shot count, offering Williamson a $15 million per year deal, which included $3 million in bonuses, according to ESPN's Nick DePaula.
Williamson was spotted wearing a pair of Puma's newest shoes — the RS-0 “Game Error” colorway, which includes hints of teal along with a bright lime green highlight and touches of pink adorning the video-game inspired the pixelated look.
Puma knew they'd have to come out strong to rival other suitors, as Williamson would do for them what Allen Iverson did for Reebok late in the 90s and what Stephen Curry did for Under Armour as recently as 2014 when the would-be MVP would make his signature shoe an overnight sensation.
“The company knew that a strong social media presence and flashy on-court sneakers wouldn't be enough to land Williamson,” wrote DePaula. “So when they met with the future No. 1 pick earlier this spring, they offered him an impressive financial commitment: a deal that soared as high as $15 million per year, plus the potential to add an additional $3 million a year in bonuses.”
Williamson left millions on the table to join Brand Jordan, impressed with the bevy of resources, the technology, and the potential to start his own shoe empire under one of the most recognizable and sought after brands of the basketball world.
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