Adidas Makes $200 Million Play to Pry James Harden From Nike
By Jason McIntyre
James Harden, the runner-up to the NBA award and one of the best young players in the NBA, is being courted heavily by Adidas, who have reportedly offered him a 13-year, $200 million contract to leave Nike.
If Harden signs with Adidas, he could actually more close (or possibly more) than he does on his current deal from the Houston Rockets playing basketball. Harden is set to make $15.7 million next season, then $16.7 million, and then $17.7 million in 2017-2018. Harden turns 26 next month, and will be in line for one more max contract before entering his 30s. It’s unclear how the Adidas deal would be structured.
Harden averaged 27.4 ppg and finished 2nd to Stephen Curry in the MVP voting last season. Also, he’s dating a Kardashian, and yes, that certainly matters, even though everyone with a brain dislikes that family and franchise.
Adidas previously invested heavily in Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, but injuries have significantly crippled his career and in late 2014, Adidas fell to 3rd behind surging Under Armour in US Sportswear sales.
Related: Andrew Wiggins Against James Harden is Why the Cavs Should Have Kept Him