Young was part of a Nike program during his one year at the Univ. of OklahomaGETTY IMAGES
NBA Draft prospects Trae Young and Lonnie Walker IV have "signed with" Adidas, according to Brooke Pryor of the OKLAHOMAN. Prior to signing with Adidas, Young was "courted by Nike, Under Armour and Puma." Young "played his AAU basketball for Mokan Elite, a Nike-sponsored program that played" in the company's Elite Youth Basketball League. He also was part of a Nike program during his one year at the Univ. of Oklahoma (NEWSOK.com, 6/19). The Athletic's Aaron Torres wrote, "Kind of wild to me that of the arguably three most marketable players in this draft (Trae Young, Marvin Bagley, DeAndre Ayton), none will sign with Nike" (TWITTER.com, 6/19).
CAT SCRATCH FEVER: Bagley last week became the first draft prospect to sign with Puma, and he said the company "presented the vision they had for the brand, for myself and for what they're trying to do going forward with everything coming up" and it "sounded great." He said, "I have a vision -- me, being creative -- I think about the future and think about what can happen. I think about the future, how things start, you can build your way up." Bagley added, "If I come in and produce, people start to like it a little more, see it a little more, it will grow and be a big brand on the basketball side" (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/19).
OTHER DRAFT NEWS: Mountain Dew Kickstart has signed a deal with Bagley, who will join a roster that includes 76ers C Joel Embiid, Lakers F Kyle Kuzma and Mavericks G Dennis Smith Jr. The partnership will kick off with an event today in Harlem ahead of tomorrow's Draft, where Mountain Dew will also be sponsoring the green carpet (Mountain Dew)....Foot Locker launched a new comedic content series along with an exclusive "One and Done" T-shirt collection that makes light of the short-lived collegiate and overseas basketball careers of Young and LiAngelo Ball. The latest spots are '90s inspired infomercials hosted by comedian Reggie Couz, one of which will air nationally on ESPN during the Draft (THE DAILY).
