Coming off of a career year as the NBA‘s leader and assists and being named to his first All-NBA Team, Tyrese Haliburton has locked down a new endorsement deal with Puma.
Puma confirmed the signing of Haliburton Tuesday after Boardroom reporter Nick DePaula first broke the news Monday. While terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, DePaula reported the Indiana Pacers star guard has signed a “massive multi-year” contract.
“I’m super excited to announce that I’ve joined the PUMA Family,” Haliburton said in a press release. “I look forward to being a part of their commitment to the next generation of basketball. PUMA’s vision and dedication to supporting athletes align perfectly with my goals, and I’m excited to represent the brand on and off the court.”
Prior to signing with Puma, Halburton had played in Nike sneakers for his entire career and largely favored shoes from the Kobe line. Puma made no mention in the announcement of a signature sneaker for Haliburton and said he’ll take to the court in the All-Pro Nitro.
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“Since day one, we’ve always focused on the next generation of basketball at PUMA. Tyrese is not only defining his own generation, but also is shaping the future of the game for many more to come,” Max Staiger, global head of Basketball at Puma, said in the the release. “We’re extremely grateful for the opportunity to partner with Tyrese to continue working on our disruptive next-gen approach to basketball.”
Haliburton joins Puma months after Salehe Bembury‘s work on the brand’s basketball line was announced. Bembury was confirmed to be designing the next signature shoe for Puma Basketball and to be involved with recruiting athletes.
A campaign video announcing the addition of Halburton was creative directed by Bembury.
While the Pacers have yet to begin their preseason schedule yet, they did play a team scrimmage in front of fans Sunday. During the contest, Haliburton wore the All-Pro Nitro, and in his Media Day photos he opted for square-toed Prada dress shoes.
Haliburton joins a Puma roster that includes LaMelo Ball, as well as WNBA superstar Breanna Stewart and second-year NBA player Scoot Henderson — all of whom have their own signature sneakers. As difficult as it’ll be to surpass the popularity of Ball’s sneakers should he get his own, particularly among the youth, Haliburton will now be the most accomplished of NBA players representing Puma.
Coming off his second-consecutive NBA All-Star appearance, Haliburton was also named to the All-NBA Third Team. Over the summer, he played for the gold medal-winning Team USA men’s basketball squad at the Olympics.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
