Andrew PetersApril 18, 2024
Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
Giannis Antetokounmpo has actually become among Nike’s greatest stars, investing his whole NBA profession with the brand name and establishing his own signature shoes, however he initially had strategies to sign with Adidas.
On the Thanalysis ShowAntetokounmpo shared the story of how he signed with Nike over Adidas before his NBA profession started.
He stated that when he initially met an Adidas agent, he was guaranteed that his bro, Thanasis, would likewise get an agreement. When he consulted with the agent later on, things had actually altered.
“He brought the agreement and put it in front of me, and I’m like, ‘Okay excellent, where is my bro’s?'” Antetokounmpo stated. “And he resembled ‘We’re not going to sign your sibling’s today. You’re going to sign yours and after that we’re going to bring your sibling in a week to sign his.’ And I resembled, ‘Uh uh, no thank you.'”
Antetokounmpo described that, at the time, his household remained in a location of requirement, and he wanted to accept an agreement for almost anything, however if his sibling wasn’t a part of the photo, he didn’t wish to take it.
“At the end of the day, if he had actually put in front people some toilet tissue and some money beside it, we most likely would’ve signed it due to the fact that he understood we remained in requirement,” Antetokounmpo stated. “At the time we weren’t able to look after our household in the very best method. He understood that, he understood our story … I believe possibly individuals who work above him attempted to capitalize.”
After refusing the Adidas agreement, he consulted with Nike agents, who didn’t think twice to provide his sibling a shoe agreement.
“It was my turn to speak and I stated that it’s essential for me for it to be a household thing,” Antetokounmpo stated. “When you take me, you take my household, my bro, my mother. And she resembled, ‘Yeah, sure, whatever.’ After that, we’ve been with Nike and she’s been by our side since.”
Things have actually exercised well for both Antetokounmpo and Nike. Now, Antetokounmpo has actually won an NBA champion, a set of MVPs and has actually released 5 signature shoes with Nike, and it appears he’ll be sticking to the brand name for the rest of his profession.