Ben Simmons could sign a sneaker deal worth in excess of $100 million as he transitions from LSU to the NBA, an industry source told SNY.tv.
Nike remains the favorite to sign the 6-foot-10 Australian point forward, who is projected as the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, but Under Armour and adidas could get involved to drive up the bidding.
“The number doesn’t astonish me, the number’s been stagnant since LeBron,” grassroots sneaker guru Sonny Vaccaro told SNY.tv on Thursday. “It would be the new precedent because LeBron was the last and [Simmons] has the makings in the mind of the NBA that he could be a great, great player. So that’s basically what they’re saying, he’s going to get a $100 million deal. I would understand that.”
Before he became the No. 1 pick in 2003 straight out of high school, James signed a deal with NIke worth a reported $90 million. (In December, he signed a lifetime deal with the Swoosh that ESPN.com reported was worth much more than the 10-year, $300 million deal Kevin Durant signed with Nike in 2015.)
Simmons has been tied into Nike for some time. His high school team, Montverde Academy, is sponsored by the Swoosh. His former high school coach, Kevin Boyle, works for Nike’s-sponsored summer camps. His AAU team, Each 1 Teach 1, played on the Nike EYBL summer circuit. Simmons played in the Nike Hoop Summit. LSU is a Nike school. And most recently he showed off a pair of exclusive Nike LeBrons on social media.
Still, adidas and Under Armour could drive up the price.
“adidas and Under Armour may throw a number out there, maybe more to push it up,” Vaccaro said. “I would say maybe [$100 million] is not enough because times have changed. We’ve seen $20 million-a-year contracts now but they’ve been for established players.”
He added: “Under Armour is on a roll with Steph Curry and they’ve gotta get another young one now and this kid is in a great position. This kid is in a great position.”
Meantime, Simmons is in danger of becoming the first No. 1 pick whose team didn’t qualify for the NCAA Tournament since Michael Olowokandi in 1998.
LSU (18-12, 11-6 SEC) has a huge game at Kentucky on Saturday and may need to win the SEC Tournament to qualify for the Big Dance.
Vaccaro, a notorious opponent of the NCAA who spearheaded Ed O’Bannon’s successful fight against the NCAA’s ability to limit compensation for players’ names and likenesses, doesn’t think Simmons needs the NCAA Tournament for his brand.
“If they’re not picked to go to the tournament, and I certainly hope that they are, it will make me smile bigger because it will prove what I’ve always said,” Vaccaro said with a laugh. “The tournament doesn’t create anything other than another moment of fame for the kid because if the athlete’s good enough, they’ll pay him.
“LeBron James never played in the NCAA Tournament and he got the biggest contract for a one-and-done out of high school. Ben’s going to get it because he’s a great talent.”
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