SHOE FETISH: THE DAILY'S STOCKING STUFFER ON NBA FOOTWEAR

          Did you ever wonder exactly who is wearing what on their
     feet in the NBA?  If so, we've got some answers. THE DAILY
     found that of the 403 players in the NBA as of Friday,
     November 28 -- including those on either the injured or
     suspended list -- 262 currently wear Nike shoes, while a
     combination of 10 companies provides shoes for the remaining
     135 NBA players.  Reebok outfits 75 players, followed by
     Converse with 16, Fila and adidas with 14 each, And 1 with
     eight and Apex with three.  Karl Kani provides sneakers for
     two players, while Spalding, Nautica and Asics each have one
     player.  Six players -- Greg Anthony, Keith Closs, James
     Collins, Tom Chambers, Stephen Howard and Aaron Williams --
     are currently testing different shoe brands (THE DAILY).
          METHODOLOGY: THE DAILY compiled these figures with the
     cooperation of Reebok, Converse, adidas, Fila, And 1, Apex,
     Karl Kani, Asics, Nautica, Spalding and NBA teams. 
     Information about Nike was gathered independently.  NOTE: The
     players wearing of a certain brand does not necessarily mean
     they are under contract with that particular company.  
          LOOK FOR MORE: All this week THE DAILY will feature the
     brand, model and shoe size of the NBA players wearing brands
     other than Nike.  Look for a listing of Reebok's 75 NBA
     players in Tuesday's issue.  The following breaks down each
     company's share of the entire league (THE DAILY):

          

  
 
    
 
      
 
        COMPANY
    
    
 
      
 
        PLAYERS
    
    
 
      
% 
        OF NBA
    
  
  
 
    
Nike
    
 
      
262
    
    
 
      
65%
    
  
  
 
    
Reebok
    
 
      
75
    
    
 
      
19%
    
  
  
 
    
Converse
    
 
      
16
    
    
 
      
4%
    
  
  
 
    
adidas
    
 
      
14
    
    
 
      
3%
    
  
  
 
    
Fila
    
 
      
14
    
    
 
      
3%
    
  
  
 
    
And 
      1
    
 
      
8
    
    
 
      
2%
    
  
  
 
    
Apex
    
 
      
3
    
    
 
      
<1%
    
  
  
 
    
Karl 
      Kani
    
 
      
2
    
    
 
      
<1%
    
  
  
 
    
Asics
    
 
      
1
    
    
 
      
<1%
    
  
  
 
    
Nautica
    
 
      
1
    
    
 
      
<1%
    
  
  
 
    
Spalding
    
 
      
1
    
    
 
      
<1%