Top NBA draft prospect Ben Simmons has announced he’s signed a shoe deal with Nike. The 6-foot-10 forward from Melbourne, Australia has been crushing it for the LSU Tigers, averaging 19.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game during the 2015-16 season.
The deal is reportedly one of the richest endorsement deals for a rookie in NBA history. According to reports, Simmons had 5-year deals on the table from both Nike and Adidas. The Adidas deal was more lucrative, offering $10 million over the 5 years plus a $2 million signing bonus and other perks. Nike offered $7.5 million, however, Paul’s agency Klutch Sports has close ties to Nike.
Simmons is expected to be the first or second pick at the upcoming draft, which takes place on Thursday June 23. The Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers hold the top two picks.
H/T to Bleacher Report’s Uninterrupted for getting the exclusive:
UNINTERRUPTED Exclusive: @BenSimmons25 announces he will be part of the @Nike family.https://t.co/l5B7Xq3uvB
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) June 7, 2016
