Gordon Hayward's Anta Deal Safe Despite Ongoing NBA-China Dispute

Anta said that it is halting its contract renewal negotiations with the NBANBAE/GETTY IMAGES

Chinese sportswear brand Anta reached out to Celtics F Gordon Hayward last week to "stress that the escalating turmoil" between the NBA and China "will not affect" his endorsement deal, according to Adam Himmelsbach of the BOSTON GLOBE. Hayward said, "They were like, ‘Hey, our relationship stays the same' ... they’ve been nothing but good to me." He added, "I know my relationship with them, with Anta, hasn’t changed. I have a great relationship with them." However, Anta said that it is "halting its contract renewal negotiations with the NBA." Hayward is among a handful of NBAers with Anta endorsement deals, including Warriors G Klay Thompson (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/12).