Having “fallen on such hard times in recent years” with injuries to Bulls G Derrick Rose and bad press for Rockets C Dwight Howard, adidas' competitors “understood that the time was right for them to take a calculated risk” on Trail Blazers G Damian Lillard, according to Sam Amick of USA TODAY. Lillard’s deal with adidas, announced on April 14, “was seen by some as a head spinner.” The deal, “thought to be the NBA’s third largest” endorsement contract, was given to a player that “received only the 22nd-most fan votes” in the All-Star Game. adidas VP/Global Basketball Lawrence Norman said that the “key decision-making factors in a shoe contract ... range from the player’s market to this character, personality and style, as well as the position he plays.” Norman: “He’s located here, down the street, and he’s in our office a lot, hanging out with guys from our brand all the time. We know what Damian Lillard is about.” Amick notes Lillard also is a “score-first point guard,” meaning he is “much more likely to get face time on camera” (USA TODAY, 5/12). Also see recent changes to adidas basketball's executive structure (THE DAILY).
