Chinese brand Peak signed a three-year endorsement deal with NBA Cavaliers player Matthew Dellavedova last week, making him the next player "to soon launch his own signature shoe," according to Nick DePaula of THE VERTICAL. The deal "will officially begin July 1." Dellavedova previously had "just a merch deal with Nike, which provided him with a modest allotment of free sneakers in team colors to wear in games." Peak also "outfits the Australian national basketball team with exhibition and practice gear." Peak and Dellavedova will "execute local regional activations, appearances and there will be a Peak 'Delly 1' signature sneaker and apparel collection slated to launch later this year." Peak Australia Managing Dir Greg Bickley said, "We are developing prototypes and would love to have them ready for him to launch in (the) Rio (Olympic Games)." DePaula noted while Dellavedova will "continue to wear the Nike Kobe X in the NBA Finals, he's been working behind the scenes to get his debut signature model just right for a fall launch." The news of Dellavedova's forthcoming signature collection "caught many by surprise and was met by a vocal crowd of skeptics that didn't understand his appeal as an endorser." It is worth noting that the "Delly 1" will be a "mostly regional play to start, focusing on his fanbase in Australia with additional launches at Peak stores in China" (THE VERTICAL, 6/3).
