When those “Winners and Losers” articles come out after the NBA Draft, Puma 100 percent deserves to be listed under the former. The German company has randomly been putting in work over the past week, signing two likely top-four selections in Duke’s Marvin Bagley and Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton as they try to develop a presence in the basketball sneaker game.
What was the thought process behind signing with Puma over the likes of Nike, Under Armour and Adidas for these two? Bagley says he wants to be different from everyone else (via Bleacher Report):
I chose Puma because I wanted to be different. I saw an opportunity where I could come in and build from the jump and work to get to a certain level. I saw myself doing that. They have some real nice stuff. I’m very excited about it, and I can’t wait to get to know everybody, keep working with everybody and keep improving.
As for Ayton, he didn’t sugarcoat it at all and basically revealed Puma backed up the Brinks truck for him:
Nike is Nike. Adidas is Adidas. I’ve played in their circuits and stuff like that, but now it’s a business. You don’t want just product. You’re not a kid anymore. You’re really trying to get bank. That’s about it.
Can’t fault the future No. 1 pick for securing another bag. I mean, he does have a history of following the money in is collegiate days…
