Reebok, John Wall End Sponsorship Deal; Wizards Star Seen Wearing Adidas

Wizards G John Wall yesterday acknowledged that his sponsorship deal with Reebok “has come to an end” after serving as its "primary basketball spokesperson the past 2 1/2 years," according to Michael Lee of the WASHINGTON POST. The move “comes only a few months after Reebok released Wall’s third signature basketball shoe.” Wall has been wearing adidas sneakers “in practice this week as he prepares to make his season debut on Saturday after missing the first 33 games with a stress injury in his left knee.” Wall said he “may try a couple” different shoes as he is “on display again.” adidas has owned the Reebok brand since ‘05 but Wall “now joins a three stripe roster that currently includes” Bulls G Derrick Rose, Lakers C Dwight Howard and T’Wolves G Ricky Rubio. Reebok created a new marketing campaign “last November centered around Wall’s North Carolina roots and shot a commercial in his hometown of Raleigh.” The company “made clear that it was not abandoning its basketball division, despite reports to the contrary, but it is also moving on from Wall” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/9).

THE PREMIERE: YAHOO SPORTS’ Jason Cole noted Broncos LB Von Miller for his game on Saturday against the Ravens is “going to put his personalized shoe by adidas on display for the first time.” The shoe is a “gleaming white, lightweight, Five-Star high-top that the sneaker company designed just for Miller,” who is “continuing to make his marketing pitch.” He even “took suggestions from reporters on possible names” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/9).