usatoday:The NBA and Adidas plan to announce an estimated $400 million, 11-year deal Tuesday that enables Adidas to take over from Reebok as the official uniform and apparel provider for the NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League with the 2006-2007 season.
Fallout from Adidas' $3.8 billion acquisition of Reebok in January could spark another bidding war. The NFL has "had discussions" with Adidas and Reebok about Reebok's current outfitting/licensing deal that runs through 2012, says spokesman Brian McCarthy. The NFL has "certain contractual rights" that allow it to talk to outsiders such as Nike if Reebok were acquired by another firm. The NFL is in talks with Nike about extending a footwear deal that expired in March.
The NBA has become increasingly global: 82 of its 450 players hail from overseas. NBA Commissioner David Stern says the more internationally focused Adidas gives his league more distribution for its products — especially in emerging markets such as China. "They have over 2,100 Adidas-branded stores in China," says Stern.
Starting next season, fans will see the Adidas rather than Reebok logo on warm-up uniforms, practice outfits and shooting shirts of NBA players as well all uniforms of WNBA and D-League players, says Stern. NBA superstars Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett have shoe/endorsement contracts with Adidas. The league's all-time scorer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, wore Adidas shoes in the 1970s and '80s.
The German athletic giant also will take over Reebok's rights to sell licensed NBA jerseys, hats, T-shirts and shoes to consumers, says Adidas president Erich Stamminger. Each of the 30 NBA teams get their own versions of the Adidas Superstar sneaker, which celebrated its 35th anniversary last year.
The NHL will unveil a redesigned, sleeker, new uniform from Reebok for the opening of the 2007-2008 season, says spokeswoman Bernadette Mansur.
