Jazz G Donovan Mitchell is "being marketed in ads and promotions among the next wave of Adidas athletes," according to Eric Woodyard of the DESERET NEWS. Mitchell could "break out up to 10 player exclusive" colorways of Adidas shoes during his second season. Adidas has not "officially announced" whether Mitchell's player exclusive versions of the Pro Bounce and Mad Bounce will be "available in stores." However, Mitchell "confirmed they would hit the shelves at some point." Although Mitchell "won't be joining" Adidas signature players like Trail Blazers G Damian Lillard, Rockets G James Harden and T'Wolves G Derrick Rose with his own shoes "just yet, he's headed down the same path." Mitchell is not the only Jazz player "currently decked out in Adidas gear," as C Derrick Favors and Gs Ricky Rubio, Dante Exum and Alec Burks also "endorse Adidas." No Jazz player has "had an actual signature shoe" since Karl Malone in '88 with the Apex Mailman (DESERET NEWS, 10/10).
CENTER OF UA'S ATTENTION: YAHOO SPORTS' Pete Thamel reports 76ers C Joel Embiid is signing a shoe deal with Under Armour, giving the company a "co-star at the highest levels of the NBA to go along" with Warriors G Stephen Curry. Embiid was "considered the top sneaker free agent on the market" headed into the NBA season. He has been "spotted wearing Under Armour shoes this preseason, including at 76ers media day" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/9). Pennsylvania-based WNEP-ABC's Chase Senior tweeted, "Superstars make the sneaker business go. If you don’t have them, you’re not competing. Embiid, Curry, Spieth, Brady, Harper, Cam, Phelps is a nice roster" (TWITTER.com, 10/10).
