ANTHONY DAVIS, the 2012 number one NBA Draft pick, has signed a lucrative shoe and clothing deal with US sports apparel giant Nike.
Davis becomes the seventh number one NBA Draft pick to sign with the Oregon-based company in the last ten years.
Only Yao Ming (Reebok), Dwight Howard (Adidas), Derrick Rose (Adidas) and John Wall (Reebok) have signed with other brands.
Davis, who was drafted to the New Orleans Hornets, has yet to play a game for his new club but has been wearing Nike footwear throughout his college basketball career.
The 19-year-old has become famous in the US for his ‘monobrow’ and has been selected for Team USA at London 2012 following the injury of Blake Griffin.
Announcing the deal ahead of the Olympic Games is a clever marketing play by Nike which will see the partnership gain some attention before the US media shifts its focus to London.
Adding another athlete to its stable might promise to be a minor victory for Nike over rival brand adidas, an official partner of London 2012, as the two giants battle for supremacy in the sports apparel division this summer.
By Luke Harman
Follow Luke on Twitter: @lukeharmanSBG