Adidas made Houston Rockets guard James Harden a $200 million man and their newly minted spokesperson back in August, but being about that “Three Stripes” life hasn’t deterred Harden from rocking Air Jordans.
Harden, with girlfriend Khloe Kardashian, was seen leaving a Straight Outta Compton showing in California last Friday wearing a pair of Metallic 5’s. For those of you that do not know, Jordan Brand is owned by Nike, who happens to be one of, if not the biggest competitor to Adidas. Adidas wasn’t too thrilled with Harden donning a pair of J’s, and Mark King, the president of Adidas North America spoke on the situation.
Via Darren Rovell of ESPN.com,
Asked whether Harden will have to stop wearing his Air Jordan collection in public when the deal officially commences Oct. 1, Adidas’ Mark King said, “That’s part of the deal.”
“The difference between football and basketball is that a guy like Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have a walk-around shoe,” King said. “Harden does, and he will be in our lifestyle stuff.”
To be fair to Harden, his Adidas deal doesn’t officially kick-in until Oct. 1, which means he technically is allowed to sport whatever he wants, but he should’ve been smarter about this.
You’re James Harden, leaving a California movie theater with a Kardashian by your side. You should know that the paparazzi will come flocking, and even if you’re still considered a free agent in terms of a footwear and apparel sponsorship, maybe wearing some of gear of the brand that just made you a very wealthy man would be best. It looks like the self-proclaimed Swag Champ took an L from Adidas on this one.
