NBA Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson "signed a new 10-year renegotiation extension" with Chinese shoe brand Anta, according to NICE KICKS. The deal, negotiated by Wasserman Senior VP/Basketball Greg Lawrence and Thompson's business manager, Joe McLean, makes him "among the top 10 highest earning sneaker endorsers" in the NBA. The deal could reach 10 years and $80M, with a "variety of incentives." Later this fall, Thompson and Anta will "launch the KT3 together, along with an assortment of KT-branded basketball gear, casual apparel and lifestyle sneakers" (NICE KICKS, 6/30). CBS SPORTS' Jack Maloney reported Thompson decided to go with Anta "in part because it gave him the opportunity to get a signature shoe." Thompson said that he wants to "be the Michael Jordan one day of Anta." He said, "I knew with the other brands in the States, whether it was Nike or adidas, it was going to be tough for me to get a signature shoe. I knew with Anta, I would have so much input creatively. ... Knowing that I could be really big in China, that was really cool to me. The shoe market sometimes is overflooded in the States, and I thought, 'Well, why not branch out and be global'" (CBS SPORTS, 6/30).
