Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo's deal with Nike is "set to expire" next month, "making him the clear-cut headliner of the available NBA players looking for a new shoe deal heading into next season," according to Nick DePaula of ESPN.com. Antetokounmpo since '13 has been paid a "mere $25,000" annually by Nike to wear the company's sneakers. Sources said that Antetokounmpo could be looking at as much as $7-10M "annually on a new five-year endorsement deal." Knicks F Kristaps Porzingis last summer "landed a seven-year pact" with Adidas that pays him just under $5M annually, with incentives putting it as high as $7M. That range has "become the starting point for expectations on the offers that Antetokounmpo and his camp are planning to hear." Antetokounmpo is "confidently looking ahead to hearing the various brand pitches, and hearing how he'll be best utilized in a company's plans." Historically, the Milwaukee market has been "challenging for footwear brands." But sources said that with the "modern social media era and Antetokounmpo's global appeal as a one-of-a-kind athlete, the market isn't a worry." Octagon's Alex Saratsis, who reps Antetokounmpo, feels his upcoming shoe deal is "not only expected to place him among the top 10 NBA players in the league from an earnings standpoint, but will also have the potential to frame and amplify his overall marketing and personal brand going forward." Adidas and Under Armour have "expressed strong interest, while Nike ultimately holds a 'match clause.'" Antetokounmpo and Saratsis are "expected to hold pitch meetings in Milwaukee in the coming weeks." Antetokounmpo also is "undeniably looking for a signature shoe." The timeline for creating a namesake model is "typically 12-18 months, so he understands the shoe would likely take a year to design and develop and would launch" for the '18-19 season (ESPN.com, 8/13).
