Washington Wizards guard John Wall is leaving shoe company Reebok it was announced Wednesday, opening the door for a new deal with apparel maker Adidas — and for questions surrounding the potential of Wall, the 2010 first overall pick.
“I’ve enjoyed my time with Reebok and I’m grateful for everything we accomplished the last few years,†Wall said in the statement. “Now, I’m excited to return to the court soon and begin my new partnership with adidas. They’ve changed the game with new technology and style and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
Reebok balked at inferences the news meant that it was giving up on its basketball division. But Wall is a coup for Adidas, who also signed Ricky Rubio, Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose.
“John Wall is a great talent and his quickness, superior athleticism and personality make him one of the most exciting young players in the game,” Lawrence Norman, Adidas VP of global basketball said in a release. “We’re excited to partner with John to continue to develop new innovative products and grow our brand and business.”
Wall is expected to return from injury on Saturday against the visiting Atlanta Hawks.
Read more at the Washington Post’s Wizards Insider.