PUMA

LaMelo Ball joins Knicks’ RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox at Puma

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New York Knicks, Lamelo Ball

LaMelo Ball has spurned his father LaVar’s Big Baller Brand and instead signed with Puma. He became the first of the Ball brothers to sign an exclusive shoe deal outside of the family patriarch’s infamous shoe and apparel brand.

A projected top-three pick in the coming NBA Draft, Ball has joined a long list of young and dynamic roster of Puma ambassadors which include New York Knicks’ duo of RJ Barrett and Kevin Knox, Phoenix Suns’ DeAndre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma, and Denver Nuggets’ Michael Porter, Jr.

“Puma’s been making waves since their comeback to basketball, not just on the court but for the culture,” Ball told Complex Sports. “They’re doing big things and are the new wave of hoops.”

Ball sported J. Cole’s signature shoe R-Dreamer in his Puma photoshoot. Ball is expected to have his own signature shoe as Puma is deadset on reviving their basketball brand since multi-awarded rapper and music producer Jay-Z’s appointment as creative consultant.

Image courtesy of Puma

Ball earlier noted that he has spoken to the Knicks, the only team that is confirmed to have interviewed him so far.

The NBA will allow teams to conduct in-person meetings which includes medical evaluation and workout with 2020 Draft prospects from Oct. 16 to Nov. 16. The month-long Draft Combine process will allow teams to receive up to two visits per player and no more than 10 total among prospects according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Ball, however, has withdrawn himself from the Draft Combine, curiously, a day after he spilled his interview with the Knicks during his media availability.

The Knicks currently have the No. 8 pick in the lottery but the top two teams — Minnesota Timberwolves (No. 1) and Golden State Warriors (No. 2) — have not discounted the possibility of trading their picks.

The Warriors are reportedly enamored with Florida State’s Devin Vassell, one of the Knicks’ options at No. 8.

It’s going to be a huge win for Puma in the event that Ball, somehow, lands in a big market such as New York.

New York Knicks: RJ Barrett Gives PUMA a Potential Big Market Star

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

The New York Knicks‘ third overall pick RJ Barrett inked a multiyear endorsement deal with PUMA. The deal gives the footwear and apparel brand an opportunity to develop its first big market superstar.

The NBA and signature shoes are a match made in heaven, quite frankly in today’s culture, you’ll find some way somehow to associate one with the other. All the big shoe and apparel companies have a superstar or superstars that are synonymous with the brands they endorse.

Nike has LeBron James and Kevin Durant among many, even before that they boasted arguably the greatest player of all-time in Michael Jordan (which eventually morphed into the popular Jordan Brand of today). Adidas today has James Harden, and Under Armour’s biggest brand recognition is undoubtedly Stephen Curry.

Does PUMA now have its first superstar in the making with New York Knicks’ rookie RJ Barrett? Granted its early to make such a bold claim, but the path is right there.

Of course, RJ Barrett would not be the first big-name or star player to sport PUMA in the apparel company’s history. Hall of Famer Walt “Clyde” Frazier was the original endorser of the brand. It just so happens that Frazier is a New York Knicks icon. In a way, Barrett signing with PUMA is a process of coming full circle for the brand.

The newly reinvented apparel company that is looking to venture into the basketball shoe culture has a catalog of young players. Last year’s top two picks DeAndre Ayton and Marvin Bagley are part of the brand. Michael Porter Jr could be in for a breakout season.

But the difference between the three aforementioned young players and RJ Barett is that the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, and Denver Nuggets don’t reside in your stereotypical big markets. Sure, on the court any of those teams (well…maybe slow down on the Suns) are in much better shape on the court in comparison to the Knicks.

But let’s face it, New York is…well…New York. Madison Square Garden is still the “Mecca.” And despite the Brooklyn Nets seemingly ready to take over NYC with their product on the court, there is a reason that the Knicks are still the highest valued NBA franchise. (Forbes)

They still command the market that is the Big Apple. The product on the court may not be doing them any favors, but the Knicks name and brand has been and may always be synonymous with New York. And that is likely why Puma’s global director of brand and marketing iterated, “We’ve had our eyes on him for a long time, going back to before last year.” (ESPN)

Now, as the highest draft pick the New York Knicks and PUMA has seen in a while, RJ Barrett has an opportunity ahead of him. He can be the fulcrum for turning this franchise around. Barrett can spearhead the transition of matching the on-court product with the market surrounding it.

RJ Barrett knows this, PUMA knows this, and that is why they signaled a mutual understanding by signing on the dotted line.