Dennis Smith Jr. enjoyed one of the best performances at the Las Vegas Summer League and that explosion raised his profile considerably in NBA circles. Of course, Smith Jr. did enough in his one-year stint at NC State to garner a top 10 selection in the 2017 NBA Draft but, in the same breath, his full arsenal of skills was on full display in Vegas and there was a real buzz about his play.
On the heels of that showing, Smith Jr. will sign an endorsement deal with Under Armour, the company announced on Tuesday morning.
Smith Jr. joins Josh Jackson as top 10 picks from this year’s draft to ink a deal with Under Armour. The move comes as something of a surprise, as Smith Jr. was closely associated with adidas prior to joining the professional ranks. His pre-college career had an adidas lean and NC State is famously an adidas-sponsored institution. Still, the good folks at Under Armour apparently did enough to entice the Dallas Mavericks rookie to look in their direction and Smith Jr. is the type of player that could have real upward momentum and possibly become a face of the brand if things go according to plan.
“I am definitely excited to be a part of team Under Armour as I get ready to go into camp for my rookie year,” said Smith Jr. “Under Armour is an explosive brand in basketball right now, and I’m excited to join Stephen, Seth and the team at UA in making our mark together. UA does it right in making footwear that helps all athletes get better, and that’s what I’m aiming for, to grow and get better and put my stamp on the league with UA.”
While Smith Jr. battled some knee issues in his younger days, the powerful guard explodes to the rim with comparisons to a young Derrick Rose and that mix of athleticism and the ability to manufacture highlight-worthy plays could do wonders in the shoe world. Being a fantastic prospect certainly helps but, as we’ve seen time and time again, being a marketable player also matters and Smith Jr. just might be both. Under Armour is certainly banking on it.
