{"id":794158,"date":"2018-10-22T21:25:14","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T01:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/?p=794158"},"modified":"2018-10-23T17:24:57","modified_gmt":"2018-10-23T21:24:57","slug":"darius-bazley-signs-multi-million-endorsement-deal-with-new-balance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/darius-bazley-signs-multi-million-endorsement-deal-with-new-balance\/","title":{"rendered":"Prep Star Darius Bazley Signs One-Of-A-Kind Sneaker Endorsement Deal With New Balance"},"content":{"rendered":"

A shift in thinking has recently overtaken the sneaker endorsement industry. It’s a welcome transition from tradition. Players are being afforded greater leverage over their futures — both financial\u00a0and otherwise. Today, New Balance<\/strong> announced that it has signed prep star Darius Bazley<\/strong> to a multi-million dollar deal unlike any other the industry has produced thus far.<\/p>\n

Bazley, a 6-foot-9, 210-pound prospect from Cincinnati, Ohio, initially\u00a0committed to playing his college ball for legendary coach Jim Boeheim at Syracuse University. A short time later, Bazley de-committed\u00a0from Syracuse\u00a0and set his sights on playing for the NBA’s developmental G League. Soon thereafter Bazley made another change; he hired agent Rich Paul of Clutch Sports, who quickly and cleverly set Bazley up with an endorsement deal with the newly reintroduced New Balance basketball wing set to officially launch in 2019.<\/p>\n

Bazley’s deal is immediately worth $1 million with the potential to span $14 million if and when Bazley makes the leap to the NBA and hits certain performance goals. He’ll also work for New Balance as an intern, serving at the company’s Lawrence, Massachusetts office during the months in which the college basketball season is at its height. He’ll partner alongside the marketing, digital and social teams and, in addition, Bazley’s time will also be spent with the footwear and apparel teams at NB’s sports laboratory.<\/p>\n

Bazley’s sneaker contract is the first for New Balance since the early 1990’s, when Los Angeles Lakers great James Worthy served as their hallmark athlete. Much of this deal is based on the Cincinnati\u00a0prospect’s pro potential. Paul feels his client is far better suited to work out and train for a year in lieu of the college game and\/or the G-League.<\/p>\n

“There will be some things he misses out on, but I\u2019m not worried at all \u2014 not with the talent and skill set he has,” Paul, who also manages LeBron James, Ben Simmons, John Wall and others told The New York Times<\/a>. “No matter what we do this year, he still has to be developed in the NBA. You see it even with the highest draft picks \u2014 it\u2019s not like you come into the league as a rookie and set the league on fire.”<\/p>\n