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Marketing and Sponsorship

Sources: Adidas Adds To Impressive Rookie Roster By Signing 76ers' Embiid, Celtics' Smart

76ers C Joel Embiid and Celtics F Marcus Smart "have signed contracts" with adidas, according to sources cited by Rodger Bohn of SLAMONLINE.com. Exact terms were "not disclosed, but it was confirmed that both contracts will be multi-year deals." adidas has "quietly established the best group of rookies" of the '14 NBA Draft class with Cavaliers F Andrew Wiggins and Jazz G Dante Exum also in the fold (SLAMONLINE.com, 7/15). In Toronto, Morgan Campbell noted Wiggins' $2M annual salary with adidas is a "fraction of the figure that rippled through the internet." Companies now "prefer to sign rookies to smaller deals, wait a few years, then lavish larger contracts on the ones who become famous enough to single-handedly drive sales." SportsOneSource analyst Matt Powell said, “The brands have said (they) just can’t justify these giant contracts for rookies. It took LeBron James years before he was really able to justify his contract (through sales).” adidas Head of Global Basketball Sports Marketing Chris Grancio in an e-mail wrote that the company "plans to use Wiggins to help sell a line of sneakers slated for a fall release," but added that a Wiggins signature shoe "isn't forthcoming." Grancio wrote, "A signature collection could certainly happen in the future but there are no plans in place at this time. As we get to know Andrew, we’ll begin to further define that strategy together" (TORONTO STAR, 7/15).

SUMMER BREEZE: In Las Vegas, Alan Snel wrote engaging players is "just one way" adidas activates its "official NBA apparel and outfitter sponsorship deal" during the Samsung NBA Summer League. The Royal Crown bar, called, “The Club,” is a "popular attraction" for Thomas & Mack Center guests, but this week, it is "off-limits to NBA fans, as workers erected walls a week ago to enclose a swanky hospitality, meet-and-greet zone for adidas." adidas Global Sports Marketing Dir Jim Gatto said that the company suite is "being used to meet player agents, cut shoe endorsement deals, showcase future products and conduct 3-D symmetrical foot scanning to fit athletes with proper shoe sizes." Summer League VP/Business Operations Albert Hall said that there is a "growing trend of NBA sponsors such as adidas and teams using the summer league to more aggressively work with clients and fans" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/15).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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