Under Armour and NBA Draft prospect Josh Jackson have inked an endorsement deal, as the former Univ. of Kansas player is a "potential star" with whom UA "hopes to continue growing its burgeoning footwear business," according to Holden Wilen of the BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL. Jackson is "widely expected to be a top-five selection" tonight (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/22). Meanwhile, THE VERTICAL's Nick DePaula noted Draft prospects Jayson Tatum and Jonathan Isaac have both signed "multi-year shoe deals with Nike Basketball." Tatum and Isaac, both projected as high lottery picks, are repped by agent Jeff Wechsler, who has "built up Kyrie Irving's signature & Penny Hardaway's retro biz in recent years." In this year's Draft class, Nike also has signed Markelle Fultz, De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Bam Adebayo and Harry Giles to shoe deals (TWITTER.com, 6/21).
HELICOPTER PARENT: In N.Y., Noam Scheiber in a front-page piece notes LaVar Ball reportedly "demanded that any apparel company intent on signing" his son, Lonzo, "license the Big Baller Brand." Prominent sports parents have "exerted influence over their adult children’s business decisions" in the past. However, Baker Street Advertising Exec VP & Exec Creative Dir Bob Dorfman said, "I can’t think of anybody who turned their back on the marketing might and power of a Nike, an Adidas, or any of those companies, and said, ‘Nope, I’m going to do it myself.’ It’s definitely unprecedented” (N.Y. TIMES, 6/22).
PLAY THE TRACK: Audio electronics company JBL has agreed to an endorsement deal with Fultz, the projected top overall pick tonight (JBL).
