New York Knicks: R.J. Barrett Signs Shoe Deal With Puma

New York Knicks rookie R.J. Barrett announced that he would be signing an endorsement deal with Puma, joining teammate Kevin Knox and basketball legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier as members of the Puma family.

RJ Barrett is coming off an up-and-down performance in his NBA Summer League debut, where he finished with strong averages of 15.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. However, the New York Knicks first-round pick has struggled with his shooting early on, and his defense clearly needed work. His talent is undeniable though, and he’s going to have lots of opportunities to get adjusted to the pace of the pros in his inaugural season.

This year’s third overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft is another talented young player endorsed by Puma. The German shoe manufacturer has already partnered with rising stars such as Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley, and Michael Porter Jr. to wear their products on the court. Additionally, Puma has been able to sign solid veterans like Rudy Gay, Terry Rozier, and Danny Green.

There was some speculation that R.J. Barrett would choose a larger company to sign his first major endorsement deal with, such as Nike or Adidas. It was also rumored that he would sign with the Jordan brand, following in the footsteps of college teammate and number one pick Zion Williamson.

https://twitter.com/PUMAHoops/status/1166847261726466049

Signing with a smaller company certainly has its benefits, as Barrett is now one of the premier ambassadors of the Puma brand in basketball. If he were to sign with a larger corporation like Nike, he would immediately be in the shadow of their high-profile icons like Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving.

With a big rookie season coming up for the former Duke star, it’s good to see him already getting acclimated to the spotlight. With one of the largest roster turnovers in recent memory, this upcoming New York Knicks season is as unpredictable as ever.

With Barrett fitting in comfortably around his new teammates, a potential playoff berth may be in store for the 2019-20 Knicks.