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words // Nick DePaula:
As the league’s newest season enters its second week, several of this summer’s recently drafted rookies are already making their presence and potential felt, with top picks like Karl-Anthony Towns, Emmanuel Mudiay, Justise Winslow and many others off to a strong start.
Heading into this year’s draft, sneaker execs at several brands were admittedly less enthusiastic than usual. The talent was there, but from a marketing standpoint, there was seemingly less star power than other recent drafts.
“It’s a phenomenal group of young players, but they’re all centers and power forwards,” adidas Basketball General Manager Chris Grancio told me a year ago. “For a GM, it’ll be a fantastic draft. For our business, it’s a little bit less appealing.”
When you also factor in that top point guard Emmanuel Mudiay had already signed with Under Armour last fall, before he headed off to China for a season, there was thought to be even less game-changing players at the top of the draft.
Whether or not this year’s Draft Class can move the needle when it comes to sneakers will remain to be seen, but so far, their collective on-court play has certainly been promising. The San Antonio Spurs’ selection, Nikola Milutinov, is being stashed overseas for at least a season. (Typical Spurs.)
Of the remaining 29 players drafted, Nike signed 20, adidas signed 5, Under Armour inked 3 and Jordan Brand’s lone new player is also the one they drafted — Frank Kaminsky. The league apparently felt some type of way about that, and is looking to limit Michael Jordan’s direct involvement in the players his Jordan Brand signs going forward. Which seems impossible to truly enforce.
Check out a complete look at the shoe deals for each of this season’s NBA rookies, and let us know in the comments section below and on Twitter which player you’re expecting to make the most impact on-court and in the sneaker industry.
1 – Karl-Anthony Towns : Nike
Minnesota Timberwolves
2 – D’Angelo Russell : Nike
Los Angeles Lakers
3 – Jahlil Okafor: Nike
Philadelphia 76ers
4 – Kristaps Porzingis : Nike
New York Knicks
5 – Mario Hezonja : Nike
Orlando Magic
6 – Willie Cauley-Stein : Nike
Sacramento Kings
7 – Emmanuel Mudiay : Under Armour
Denver Nuggets
8 – Stanley Johnson : Nike
Detroit Pistons
9 – Frank Kaminsky : Jordan
Charlotte Hornets
10 – Justise Winslow : Adidas
Miami Heat
11 – Myles Turner : Nike
Indiana Pacers
12 – Trey Lyles : Nike
Utah Jazz
13 – Devin Booker : Nike
Phoenix Suns
14 – Cameron Payne : Nike
Oklahoma City Thunder
15 – Kelly Oubre : adidas
Washington Wizards
16 – Terry Rozier : adidas
Boston Celtics
17 – Rashad Vaughn : Nike
Milwaukee Bucks
18 – Sam Dekker : Nike
Houston Rockets
19 – Jerian Grant : Under Armour
New York Knicks
20 – Delon Wright : Under Armour
Toronto Raptors
21 – Justin Anderson : Nike
Dallas Mavericks
22 – Bobby Portis Jr. : Nike
Chicago Bulls
23 – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson : Nike
Brooklyn Nets
24 – Tyus Jones : Nike
Minnesota Timberwolves
25 – Jarell Martin : Nike
Memphis Grizzlies
27 – Larry Nance Jr : adidas
Los Angeles Lakers
28 – RJ Hunter : Nike
Boston Celtics
29 – Chris McCullough : Nike
Brooklyn Nets
30 – Kevon Looney : adidas
Golden State Warriors
