Bazley is moving to the Boston area in early January to launch his off-court business educationGETTY IMAGES
Darius Bazley, a top basketball prospect who is skipping college this year, will "intern at New Balance" during the season as part of a "handsome shoe contract Bazley ... has landed" with the company, according to Marc Stein of the N.Y. TIMES. Klutch Sports' Rich Paul, who reps Bazley, said that a multiyear deal will pay his client $1M “no matter what happens” with his NBA career. The deal could be worth up to $14M if Bazley "reaches all performance incentives." Bazley in March "stunned many in the sport by announcing he was decommiting from Syracuse so he could play out his one-year wait" for the '19 NBA Draft in the G League. However, that plan "has also been nixed." Players in Bazley’s situation have "more often chosen to play abroad in Australia or China, or work out on their own with private trainers for a year until becoming draft eligible." Bazley is moving to the Boston area in early January to "launch his off-court business education." He is "expected to spend time with New Balance’s marketing department, digital and social teams, footwear and apparel design arms and the company’s sports laboratory in Lawrence, Mass." New Balance "hasn’t marketed basketball shoes" since the '90s (N.Y. TIMES, 10/23).
ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE: In Syracuse, Chris Carlson notes Bazley's decision "comes at an interesting time for college basketball with increased public criticism of its system for compensating athletes." The highly publicized court case involving Adidas employees accused of "paying players to attend Adidas schools" is awaiting a jury decision, and "part of the reason the Adidas employees have said they offered payment to players was because they hoped it would give them an advantage in signing a player once he became an NBA player." By signing Bazley now, New Balance "took that part out of the equation, potentially giving players who don't have interest in a college education a different and more lucrative path to the NBA" (Syracuse POST-STANDARD, 10/23).
TWITTER REAX: SI's Amy Campbell: "Rich Paul & Klutch Sports getting creative on getting around one & done." Stadium's Jeff Goodman: "Bazley is a talented kid. Not sure anyone had him ranked in the Top 10 nationally. He hired an agent in Rich Paul that has the leverage (with other big-time clients) to help him cash in." ESPN's Darren Rovell: "Been really impressed with what New Balance has done in track & field, but baffled by the decision to go into basketball & have the first face of their brand be Darius Bazley, who could very well be a second round draft pick. For $1M guarantee, could have had Top #5-10 pick."
