Puma has added Celtics G Terry Rozier to its roster after the brand "relaunched its basketball category" with the signings of several other NBAers, according to BLEACHER REPORT. Puma previously had brought on Suns C Deandre Ayton, Kings F Marvin Bagley III, Nuggets F Michael Porter Jr., 76ers F Zhaire Smith and Spurs F Rudy Gay. Rozier said, "Me signing with Puma is basically letting you know, I'm taking over the Puma world. You got guys taking over Adidas, you got guys taking over Nike ... whatever. I'm competing with the Puma world and I'm taking over that s--t." Asked why he did not stay with Nike, Rozier said, "I was never with them. I was just wearing them" (BLEACHERREPORT.com, 7/26). ESPN's Jackie MacMullan said Puma signing Rozier is a "good move." ESPN.com's Kevin Arnovitz said Puma is "doing a really interesting job of buying some high-growth, low-priced stocks right now." Arnovitz said, "Some of them will pop, and they want in. Everybody wants to be (in the NBA)" ("The Jump," ESPN, 7/26).
IF THE SHOE FITS...: THE ATHLETIC's Jared Weiss cited sources as saying that Rozier "agreed to a multi-year deal to become the first scoring guard in Puma’s portfolio earlier this month." A source added that although Rozier will "not get a signature shoe initially, Puma is considering creating one if Rozier is able to continue to build his brand like he did this year." Puma had "collected a diverse group of athletes who eventually can become dominant scorers, but they were still thin at the all-important guard spot." Rozier "originally signed a 3-year, $300,000 deal with Adidas when he was drafted." But after he was shown wearing Nikes during pregame warmups at the '17 Eastern Conference Finals, Adidas "terminated his deal." But what "makes Rozier special is the brand he has built around his Scary Terry nickname ... and Rozier’s ability to create hilarious and entertaining stories on and off the floor." However, betting on Rozier is "tricky," because it remains "unclear how his career is going to play out from this point." It seems like a "win-win scenario for Puma, who may be launching the Scary Terry I someday soon" (THEATHLETIC.com, 7/26).
