Sneakers have an important place in the NBA's cultural system, and many famous basketball players have their own signature shoes and even brands, from Michael Jordan to LeBron James, from Kobe Bryant to Stephen Curry, they all have their own signature shoes and specific logos, which are loved by the majority of fans.

Today, with the draft coming to a successful conclusion, a new group of players will join the best basketball league in the world, and they will not only join a team of their choice, but also find their place in the world of sneakers.

What are the sneaker brands in the NBA world?

When it comes to sneaker brands, the first to bear the brunt are the big three sneakers, Nike, Adidas and Under Armour. Of course, there are also our domestic brands Li Ning, Anta and Peak, etc. Although it seems that there are so many families, the NBA is still dominated by Nike. According to statistics, 68% of all players in the league are currently signed with Nike. Not only are they numerous, but they are also star-studded, with James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, Anthony Davis, Paul George and others all big names under Nike. Coupled with Jordan and Kobe, who have retired but are still popular, Nike's lineup can also be called a dream team in the sneaker industry.

Although they already have such a strong roster, Nike is still in a state of active expansion, and they continue to expand their roster every year. Including this year's No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz and fifth pick Daron Fox are the new signings they just made.

The NBA also currently has as many as 70 players signed under the Adidas roster, and it is still growing. These include James Harden, Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid and Kristaps Porzingis, among others. They also signed five rookies last season, which is a big move for the company, but it will take some time for Adidas to catch up with Nike in the basketball world.

Stephen Curry has had great success for the company since he became the face of Under Armour. Although they lost the Finals last year, which greatly diminished their brand value, this season they have made a comeback and found new growth among rookies. This time they took a fancy to Josh Jackson, who became the first Under Armour rookie to be drafted in the lottery after Emmanuel Moodier.

In addition, domestic brands also have famous players, although the expansion momentum is obvious, but it is still far from the big three in the sneaker industry.

How do players choose a brand?

Just like a free agent can choose which team to join, any player can choose the sports brand he wants to endorse. But in addition to the subjective factor, there are other factors that will determine where the brand they sign up ends up with.

The main factor is the benefits and benefits they get from it, but it is nothing more than the two basic principles, "Does this brand reflect your personal values?" Can it help you get on the bigger stage? ”

Being able to join a brand is a great opportunity for players to expand their business path.

Since business activities are involved, it is clear that the monetary factor must be taken into account. If companies can give players more contract amounts, they will be able to win the hearts and minds of players in most cases. This is also the reason why Li Ning and Anta were able to attract Wade and Thompson in the end.

What else can these companies offer besides Chiguo's money? For example, the larger business arena. Take Wade as an example, not only can he add his own design elements to Li Ning's exclusive sneakers, but he also holds a stake in Li Ning. This is a treatment that is impossible for him to have in the previous Flyer brand.

So does everyone get an exclusive pair of signature shoes?

How can it be......

In fact, even if you make it to the NBA, it's still very difficult to get an exclusive pair of signature shoes. So far, only 18 players in the league have their own signature shoes, including Matthew Dellavidova's Peak signature shoes and Lonzo Ball's ZO.

The vast majority of players don't have the opportunity to interfere with the design of their shoes, let alone get the benefits of exclusive sneakers. It's a treat that only the best players in the league can enjoy.

The vast majority of players have earned such an award after years of hard work in the league. Of course, there are exceptions, such as the "Flyer" Jordan and the "Little Emperor" James, who started their rookie season with the signature shoes that Nike designed for themselves, but how many James and Jordan have been there over the years?

So what else could it be if it's not a signature shoe?

Players usually have three types of agreements to sign: merchandise contracts, cash contracts and signed shoe contracts.

Merchandise contracts are the most common type of agreement, in which players are self-funded by the brand for wearing a certain brand of shoes in that team's colour, usually on a yearly basis. One of the perks of this contract is that the player can share his gear with anyone. If player A has a buddy who wants a pair of shoes, then he can use his merchandise agreement to customize a new pair of shoes that he wants.

Such contracts sometimes include certain incentives as well. For example, if the player wins the Skills Challenge at All-Star Weekend, wins the All-Star Game MVP, etc., they will receive additional benefits for this.

As the players improve, there is a risk that a merchandise contract will turn into a cash contract. The value of a cash contract is much higher than a commodity contract, at least $00,000. If the player receiving the sponsorship is stronger, the contract will be even higher. At the same time, this contract will also be rewarded with additional rewards for the outstanding performance of the players.

That's not a lot of money for most players, but who doesn't love real money?

If the player continues to improve, they will have the opportunity to receive a special colorway or logo for the player. Kevin Love, for example, once received a special model of Nike Hyperdunk.

Commodity contracts are usually signed once a year, while cash contracts are usually signed for a period of -5 years.

The last remaining signed shoe contracts are only for a few privileged players. In some cases, the amount of such a sneaker contract can be in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and the time horizon can be as long as 10 years. James Harden, for example, signed a $100 million shoe contract last summer, and he has a one-year contract. James' contract is even more impressive, as he signed a lifetime contract with Nike. These sporting goods companies are obviously not stupid either, and they will not let the money-making opportunities in their hands slip away. (To be continued)