As players in the NBA tend to play well, their value in the league goes up substantially. And with the rise in popularity comes the endorsement deals off the court. One of which is the lucrative signature shoe deal that almost every player dreams of.

Recently, LeBron James’ $56 million worth of teammate signed a seven-figure deal with a Chinese brand. And believe it or not, his signature shoe sold like hot cakes.

LeBron James’ teammate’s new signature shoe

From going undrafted to becoming a key role player for the Los Angeles Lakers, Austin Reaves rose the ladder to fame and stardom quite quickly. And Reaves indeed has proven himself along the way.

Recently, the 25-year-old went in a different direction when signing a shoe deal. While Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour have the majority of the NBA on lock, Reaves decided to go with a Chinese brand instead.

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Back in 2022, Reaves signed with the brand Rigorer and became their first athlete to play in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers guard got a signature shoe named The Rigorer AR1 which he will be debuting in the 2023-24 NBA season.

However, when his signature shoe finally hit the shelves, it sold out within seconds of its release. 

Even while talking to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Reaves could not believe that he had a signature shoe deal. He said, “If you had told me I would have had a signature shoe at 18, I would have looked at you and called you a liar.”

Reaves making a path of his own

Austin Reaves may have taken a page out of Michael Jordan’s playbook to go with a brand that is unheard of. At least that is what MJ did back in 1984 when he signed with Nike. The entire league was locked up by either Adidas or Converse back then.

So, Reaves’ decision to go with a new brand may not be the worst decision. Given that he is not the only one in the league that has a shoe deal with a Chinese brand. After a falling out with Nike, Kyrie Irving also signed a deal with Anta earlier this year.

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