James Harden is a free agent. No, not in terms of his playing contract, as he signed an extension with the Houston Rockets in 2012 to remain with the team through the 2017-18 season. The former Arizona State Sun Devil is a free agent in terms of his footwear and apparel endorsement.
Harden’s contract with Nike ended on August 1, and as many presumed, adidas Basketball was eager to pursue the All-Star guard. So much in fact that a report today from ESPN’s Darren Rovell indicates that the brand offered Harden a long-term deal that extends 13 years for the sum of $200 million.
Now that adidas will no longer be the official apparel provider of the NBA with Nike set to take over after next season, much of their positioning on-court will now be centered around their roster of endorsed athletes. With the likes of Derrick Rose, Damian Lillard, John Wall, Andrew Wiggins and others, Harden would make a huge statement for the brand – one that more than anything says we have an athlete that Nike once had and continues to covet.
Nike, however, isn’t out of the running just yet. The Beaverton-based brand has a week to match the $200 million offer submitted by adidas. But with a number of this magnitude, you’d almost imagine Nike would bow out of this fight and focus on their growing new relationships with the likes of Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell, among others.
For many, adidas Basketball and Harden works for a multitude of reasons. But will Nike attempt to match? If not, will Harden be the next in line for a signature shoe? Stay tuned to Nice Kicks for more on this developing story.
Source: ESPN
