NBA inks apparel deal with Nike, ousting Adidas - USA TODAY
Nike will replace Adidas as the NBA's official on-court apparel provider and will become the first apparel company to get its logo on player uniforms, the league announced Wednesday. The NBA and Nike signed an eight-year deal beginning with the 2017-18 season, giving the world's largest apparel brand a marketing edge in an increasingly global sport. "Among the reasons this deal is significant is that it continues the steady progression of corporate logos directly on jerseys," said David Carter, principal of The Sports Business Group and executive director of the University of Southern... The deal, which also includes apparel rights for the WNBA and the NBA D-League, also gives Nike the global rights to produce jerseys and warm-ups. "As our exclusive on-court apparel provider, Nike will be instrumental in our collective efforts to grow the game globally while applying the latest in technology to the design of our uniforms and on-court products. "Despite this, on the surface it may look like they were outgunned by Nike at a time when both Nike and Under Armour were looking to spend across the board. Source: www.usatoday.com
