Like most NBA superstars, a major shoe deal is a big part of their legacy. John Wall landed his first one with Reebok as a rookie, but later jumped ship to adidas. He would subsequently end his relationship with that company as well amid reports he was unhappy with the size of his contract.
Wall has since signed back on with adidas, and there’s quite a bit to parse out in terms of the nuances of his deal. For starters, Wall won’t have a signature sneaker with the brand, which probably sounds surprising given that most people would consider that the primary purpose of any sneaker endorsement.
However, there are all sorts of other perks and incentives built in to the contract, including some very cool opportunities to collaborate with some of hip hop’s heavyweights.
In early January, though, Wall announced that he was reuniting with Adidas. According to documents obtained by SI, Wall’s deal calls for him to be paid, in principle, a base of $4.825 million in 2017-2018; which then increases marginally and returns to $4.825 million in 2021-22. (While Wall will not have a signature shoe with Adidas, this deal permits him to collaborate on footwear with fellow clients like Kanye West and Pharrell, a likelihood, his representatives tell SI.)
The contract also stipulates that Wall will not lose money if he suffers a significant injury within the first two years of the deal. Additionally, there’s all sorts of cash incentives if, for example, Wall wins MVP, gets named to one of the All-NBA teams, leads the league in one of numerous statistical categories, and many more.
But the ins and outs of this deal are among the least of his concerns these days. Wall has been embroiled in locker-room turmoil in recent days regarding borderline cryptic tweets from teammates as the Wizards have gone on a five-game win streak in his absence.
Still, Washington has a tenuous grip on the No. 4 seed in the East, and they’ll absolutely need a healthy Wall in tow if they harbor any designs on an extended postseason run.
(Via SI.com)
