Adidas got a big win with its rookie class in the NBA for shoe deals by signing Chicago Bulls No. 7 pick and point guard Coby White.
What seemed like a slam dunk (no pun intended) for the Jordan brand, Chicago Bulls rookie point guard and seventh overall 2019 NBA Draft pick Coby White announced who he would sign his shoe deal with on Aug. 13. On what was a hot Tuesday afternoon, White announced that he would pick a different brand from what would seemingly make the most sense.
White decided to sign his shoe deal with Adidas over Jordan. This is the biggest news for this Bulls team in about the last two weeks. That also shows how slow the news cycle was since the NBA Vegas Summer League and the bulk of this cycle of free agency ended.
When White as playing his freshman campaign with the North Carolina Tar Heels, his signature pink shoe was produced by the Jordan brand. The legendary former Bull and Tar Heel Michael Jordan also caught an apparent wave of momentum with this rookie class by signing the former Duke Blue Devils freshman sensation and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson.
It would be an interesting combination if Jordan had signed both Zion and Coby. But Adidas was able to snag White, as he follows in the footsteps of a fellow Bulls point guard in the past Derrick Rose. Back in the early 2010’s, D-Rose had a revolutionary stint with Adidas with his sneaker line. His shoes are still pretty popular to this day as he enters his second decade in the NBA on a new contract with the Detroit Pistons.
OFFICIAL: Chicago Bulls’ #7 overall pick @CobyWhite has signed a multi-year shoe deal with @AdidasHoops. pic.twitter.com/HsR7h6LUQo
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) August 13, 2019
White does get to carve out a path for himself instead of following in the footsteps of all-time great former Bulls and Tar Heels (most notably MJ) with this pop culture move of signing with Adidas. The deal with Adidas might’ve also been more lucrative and open for White than he had in discussions with Jordan.
OFFICIAL: #4 overall pick De’Andre Hunter has signed a multi-year shoe deal with Nike.
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) August 9, 2019
The Hawks small forward’s endorsement deal was negotiated by @Wasserman. pic.twitter.com/bbywcmbk8Q
Moreover, on the same day that White signed his multi-year shoe deal with Adidas, the first round pick of the Atlanta Hawks and forward De’Andre Hunter signed with Nike. White is more of an icon off-the-court than the former Virginia Cavaliers National Champion Hunter, though.
White joins a Bulls teammate of his, shooting guard Zach LaVine, and former veteran center Robin Lopez as Adidas athletes in the NBA. Star point guards around the NBA like Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers and Trae Young of the Hawks also rep Adidas.
Adidas is an interesting move by Coby no doubt. But it adds a bit of intrigue to the Chicago Bulls backcourt for any NBA fans that are also sneakerheads.