19-year old Ben Simmons is projected to be the #1 pick by the Philadelphia Sixers in the NBA Draft on June 23rd and he'll be breaking into the league as a Nike athlete.
The former LSU forward was being courted by both Nike and Adidas but he allegedly opted to sign with Nike after they increased their offer. The money is certainly a crucial factor, but if he has seen what Adidas has planned for James Harden's kicks, signing with Nike is a no-brainer.
Those in the know believe that Simmons' deal will be one of the biggest rookie contracts for a Nike athlete, but not in the same ballpark as the deals that LeBron James and Kevin Durant signed.
[Via]