Luka Doncic Becomes Footwear Free Agent After Nike Deal Expires

The former Nike athlete and reigning NBA ROY has global appeal and is known to wear colorful sneakersNBAE/GETTY IMAGES

The two-year contract Mavericks G Luka Doncic "signed with Nike during his final season at Real Madrid expired" yesterday, as did Nike's 180-day window to "match the highest bidder and keep Doncic," according to Brad Townsend of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Doncic said, "Yeah, I'm a free agent now. So we'll see what we do." It now "seems a given" that the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year's shoe/apparel annual average will "easily surpass" the $7.68M he will make in salary from the Mavs in '19-20. Doncic, who is from Slovenia, has "world appeal," and he is "known for wearing colorful sneakers." Doncic said, "It's very important, this deal. First of all, if the shoe is good for my feet, to have a long career. But, yeah, the look, too" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/1).