I’ll be honest. When I saw this news. Everybody started to cheer and I was sitting there going. “So are the designs changing or is it just the tech?” answering my question the designs will not change. It will just be the tech.
But I was looking at all this wrong. And if you’re in my boat of confusion. Let me put your mind at ease.
Two words. Sleeved. Jerseys.
That’s right everybody! No more sleeves! No more disgraceful Christmas jerseys that’ll make you want to gouache your eyes out with a spoon or your kitchen utensil of choice. The nightmare is over everybody! Ding dong the witch is dead!
Alright we’ve had our fun. Adidas will not renew their partnership with the NBA. After the 2016-17 season they will not be the official outfitter of the NBA. The news was broken by ESPN’s Business Insider Darren Rovell and further details was provided by Matthew Kish of the Portland Business Journal.
Breaking: Adidas announces that it will not renew its contract w/the NBA after it expires following the 2016-17 season.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 16, 2015
The German company has dropped its bid to extend its apparel contract with the league and instead will focus on developing new products, endorsing more amateur teams and doubling its roster of NBA players.
The company, which has its North American headquarters and basketball division in Portland, has been the league’s apparel partner since it signed an 11-year deal in 2006 for a reported $400 million. The company has been in talks with the NBA about an extension since 2012 but this month decided to walk away.
A source familiar with the bidding process said Adidas made the decision after it was informed last week that the NBA planned to open the competition to other bids. The source noted Adidas has fallen behind its competitors.
Now that we know this news. Who will be the new outfitter of the NBA? Nike? Under Armour? Well according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY Sports, NIke and Under Armour are already interested.
Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank recently spent time at NBA headquarters, talking to the league’s marketing staff, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is impressed with Plank and what he has done with Under Armour.
But the NBA also has familiarity with Nike, too. Nike was the NBA’s official apparel sponsor until 2004, and Nike is the official apparel sponsor for USA Basketball.
Nike and its Jordan Brand also dominate the NBA shoe and apparel market, and several of the game’s best players have deals with Nike and Jordan Brand.
