CLEVELAND -- Kristaps Porzingis and Adidas have agreed to a multiyear contract that is the richest shoe and apparel deal for a European player in NBA history.
Porzingis and Adidas agreed earlier this month to a contract worth $3 million to $6 million annually, ESPN sources confirm. Nike, Porzingis' previous endorser, had an opportunity to match the Adidas offer but declined to do so.
"I'm happy to be here and it just felt right to be with Adidas," Porzingis said in a statement. "There's a lot of excitement right now, and I feel like it's the right fit for me. 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."
Porzingis, a second-year Knicks forward from Latvia, averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game last season. According to Basketball Reference, Porzingis is the only rookie in NBA history to exceed 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 75 3-pointers and 100 blocks in a season.
His success last season endeared him to the Knicks fan base and proved to be a strong marketing tool. Porzingis finished fourth in jersey sales last season, according to the NBA.
"There has never been a player in the league like Kristaps, and his love for basketball culture speaks volumes," Michael Ladinig, Adidas' senior director of sports marketing, said in a statement. "He's changing how the game is played and is an ideal ambassador for Adidas as we ... show fans in New York and worldwide what the next generation of Adidas Basketball is all about."
The Vertical earlier reported the agreement and the annual value of Porzingis' contract, which fluctuates depending on incentives.
