USA TODAY's Andrew Joseph noted No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton in his preseason debut with the Suns on Monday "wasn’t wearing Puma sneakers," but instead sporting Nike Kobe AD shoes with the Nike logo "taped over." But the move "wasn’t a shot at Puma," as it "appeared to be a step taken with the blessing" of Puma, which signed Ayton shortly before the draft. Ayton "wears a Size 18 sneaker, and the company was in the process of developing a shoe in both Ayton’s size and desired specification." Ayton was "testing out the Puma sneakers" in yesterday's practice (USATODAY.com, 10/2). Ayton also wore Nike during the NBA Summer League (THE DAILY).
GET THAT PAPER: ESPN.com's Rich Cimini noted NFL Jets RB Isaiah Crowell is now "promoting a product called Dude Wipes, which bills itself as a toilet-paper substitute for men" and the company is "promoting Crowell on Twitter." Crowell, after scoring a TD on "TNF" in Week 3 against the Browns, "pretended to defecate in the end zone, then wiped his rear end with the football before throwing it into the crowd" (ESPN.com, 10/2).
JUST THE RIGHT FIT: USA TODAY's Nina Mandell noted Heat G Dwyane Wade is "releasing a new line of leisure socks to honor Wade County -- his own tribute to Miami as he plays what he said will be his final season in the NBA." It is the "first line released by Wade’s own sock company, PKWY, which he founded in partnership" with sock-maker Stance (USATODAY.com, 10/2).
