KRISTAPS PORZINGIS JOINS ADIDAS BASKETBALL
Kristaps Porzingis of the New York Knicks has joined the adidas Basketball family. The young superstar is entering just his second year in the NBA and has already made significant waves as a leader on the court. Porzingis will bring his one-of-a-kind game and personality to the most progressive footwear and apparel brand in the world.
“I’m happy to be here and it just felt right to be with adidas. There’s a lot of excitement right now, and I feel like it’s the right fit for me,” said Kristaps Porzingis. “A city like New York is hungry for success in basketball, and I believe adidas will help take my game to the next level. I’m a unique player and adidas is a unique brand. I’m just excited to join the family.”
The Knicks’ second-year forward joins the ranks of an adidas basketball roster highlighted by NBA All-Stars James Harden of the Houston Rockets, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors, 2015 Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins of the Minnesota Timberwolves and 2016 WNBA Finals MVP Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks.
“There has never been a player in the league like Kristaps and his love for basketball culture speaks volumes,” said Michael Ladinig, adidas Sr. Director Sports Marketing. “He’s changing how the game is played and is an ideal ambassador for adidas as we continue to evolve on and off the court. Kristaps joining team adidas will show fans in New York and worldwide what the next generation of adidas Basketball is all about. We can’t wait to build the future together.”
Kristaps will lace up adidas Basketball’s newest franchise, Crazy Explosive, in a variety of colors for the 2016-17 NBA season. He will play a collaborative and instrumental role in driving performance insights to create new footwear and apparel, while also being featured in upcoming brand campaigns, activations and global athlete tours.
Kristaps Porzingis
The Latvia native rewrote NBA record books by becoming the first rookie in league history to post more than 1,000 points, 75 three-pointers, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks. Kristaps utilized a seven-foot-three wingspan and dominance in the paint with smooth ball handling, sharp-shooting beyond the arc and poster throwdowns on his way to recording 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. He also finished eighth in the league in blocks and earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors. Prior to being selected by the New York Knicks at No. 4 in the 2015 NBA Draft, Kristaps played with Baloncesto Sevilla in Spain where he laid the groundwork for his professional career. He takes a family-first approach and exudes a passion for building the game of basketball in his home country of Latvia.
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THE NEXT WAVE IS HERE
Five of the NBA's most sought-after draft prospects Brandon Ingram, Jaylen Brown, Jamal Murray, Dragan Bender and Kris Dunn today chose to join adidas Basketball and help create the future of the game.
"It truly means a lot to be a part of adidas, and we're just going through this journey together," Brandon explained. "The group that I'm with today – it's just a lot of high character guys. So this new wave, all of the product and everything that's coming is really just going to take things over."
After seasons of holding down highlight reels, adidas' newest partners are heralded for their elite skillset and creativity on the hardwood. Their path to the NBA started with loyalty to family and community and was solidified by their character, passion and dedication to the game.
"Our playbook is simple – partner with the best players and use their insights to change the game and connect with young athletes," said Chris Grancio, general manager, adidas global basketball. "It's no secret that at adidas players have a voice to share ideas and insights that will create the best basketball gear in the world. We're proud to welcome them to our family and we look forward to getting started."
The latest three stripe partners will play a collaborative and instrumental role in driving performance insights to create new footwear and apparel. They will also be featured in upcoming brand campaigns, activations and global tours.
Brandon Ingram
Real toughness comes from within for Brandon Ingram. Pairing a 7-foot-3 wingspan with dynamic strength on the court, the versatile wing creates offense with poise, finishes with explosive jams at the rim and shoots sharp beyond the arc. The North Carolina native led his college team to the Sweet Sixteen and was named the ACC Freshman of the Year behind 16.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting 41-percent from three-point range. He won four state championships at Kinston High on his way to being named a 2015 McDonald's All-American. Brandon is also passionate about art and relaxes off-court by sketching still-life images, portraits of NBA players, copies of his own tattoos and personal drawings.
Jaylen Brown
A fierce competitor with natural strength and intelligence beyond his 19 years of age, Jaylen Brown is as a true creator on and off the court. His freshman campaign showcased his versatility, nose for the basket and elite defensive play. The Georgia native posted 14.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in his freshman debut, was named the 2016 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and previously earned McDonald's All-American honors. While he dominates on the hardwood, Brown stands out from the crowd because of his hunger to learn and desire to stay true to his values and approach.
"I've known some of these guys for a long time. We enjoy being in each other's presence and at the same time, we're fierce competitors. I feel like everybody else wants to fit in and for what? We're born to stand out," Jaylen said. "The whole brand, the whole movement – I'm here to create. That speaks to me on so many levels. I'm someone that wants to be different and respected for generations to come. That's what I'm here for."
Dragan Bender
Born in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Dragan's game features an explosive first step, quickness in transition and sharp-shooting on the perimeter. At just 18-years old, he is the youngest player on Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Euroleague and continues to develop his skillset at multiple positions from both ends of the floor. Dragan embraces a family-first mentality and aims for a selfless style of play that drives create offense on the court.
"adidas has been a great partner early in my career, and I'm excited to be a part of the family as I start my NBA journey," Dragan said. "I'm always looking for ways to improve – focusing on training and growing my game every day. Wherever I land, I want to be next year's difference and adidas will help me get there."
Kris Dunn
Leading this summer's draft as the most physical floor general, Kris Dunn blends a unique combination of speed and power that makes him one of the most difficult guards to defend. He weaves through traffic with ease, operates with smooth handles off the dribble and controls tempo on-court with elite defense. Kris averaged 16.4 points, 6.2 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals on his way to being named the 2016 Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. He aims to thrive as a voice in his community and represents his game with a family-first mentality.
"I'm always training to get better, and I'm ready to compete against basketball's best," Kris said. "Choosing to join adidas came down to two things: family and performance. They'll elevate my game on the court and allow me to be a part of the process but most importantly, help build a presence in my community to give back. That's what it's all about for me at the end of the day."
Jamal Murray
Deployed as a sharp shooter in his freshman campaign, Jamal Murray plays with a versatile skillset and finds different ways to attack the basket. He developed his game as a complete guard, proving to serve as a playmaker in the clutch with leadership and on-court vision. The Canada native averaged 20 points per game and shot 40.8-percent from three, earning First-Team All-SEC honors. Fostering a "straight to the gym" mentality, Jamal trains with a relentless work ethic and focus on improving performance.
"Basketball is life for me," Jamal said. "It's about having fun but you've got to put in the work. After meeting with adidas, I knew they would be the partners to start my NBA journey with. Working on this together, embracing that team mentality and setting a direction for where I want to go in my career plays a huge factor."