You might remember around the NBA All-Star break that Dallas Mavericks’ Chandler Parsons signed a deal with Anta, a Chinese shoe company. Personally, the staff at TB prefer Nike, Adidas and our own John Hobbs loves his Converse All-Stars, but does Parsons really like his signature sneaks?
PARSONS RETURNS FROM INJURY … DONS JORDAN SNEAKERS
It seems that Anta’s reputation has plummeted.
Parsons signed a $1million-a-year deal with the Chinese firm but could the shoe be the reason behind the player’s recent injury layoff?
Via ESPN:
Parsons, who has a $1 million per year endorsement deal with the Chinese shoe company Anta, wore Jordan Brand sneakers with the logos covered during the Mavs’ 100-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers because of concerns that his shoes contributed to the sprain and bone bruise to his left ankle.
“I just am trying to figure out if it was one of the shoes that I was wearing that bothered me,” Parsons told ESPNDallas.com. “I just wanted to fix them and make them stiffer.
“The injury that I had, [Mavs athletic trainer Casey Smith] was telling me how [the Anta shoes] were a little too flexible in the ankle, so I guess they said Jordan Brand had a stiffer shoe. In the meantime, I blacked out the logo and am trying to wear those until the new shoe is out.”
Parsons met with Anta representatives during the Mavs’ trip to Portland, Oregon, at the beginning of their three-game road trip. The company agreed to alter his shoes to meet specifications suggested by Smith.
“They’re going to fix my shoe and hopefully send it back soon so I can get back in Anta,” Parsons said.
Parsons suffered the sprain and bone bruise when he landed after grabbing a rebound in the Feb. 20 win over the Houston Rockets. However, his left ankle started bothering him before the All-Star break.
Parsons signed a five-year deal with Anta before last season. At the time, Parsons made more from Anta than his NBA salary, as he was a second-round pick on his rookie deal with the Rockets. Parsons can opt out of his shoe contract after next season, according to sources.
RONDO FLATTERED BY KOBE’S WORDS
Kobe Bryant has made it abundantly clear that he’ll heavily recruit Rajon Rondo this summer when the point guard becomes an unrestricted free agent, but it’s no promise.
Despite the rumours and tough adjustment to his new playing environment, Rondo says there’s no reason he’d want to leave the Dallas Mavericks.
Rondo is flattered that Kobe so desperately wants him as a Los Angeles Lakers teammate.
Via LA Daily News:
The two competitors and close friends apparently scheduled to have breakfast again. But then Lakers guard Kobe Bryant stood up Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo. […] “A–hole,” Rondo joked, referring to the nickname they have for each other.
“I stay in touch with him. I stay in touch with some other guys, too,” Bryant said, though he said the two did not interact before, during or after the Lakers’ 100-93 loss to Dallas on Sunday at Staples Center. “I’ll look around and talk with management. We’ll look at what we can do and should do. Hopefully we’ll then have a more competitive team.”
“When he speaks, it speaks volumes,” Rondo said of Bryant. “It’s an honor and compliment he’d want to play with a guy like me. But right now I’m focused on winning a championship with the Dallas Mavericks.” […] “It’s impossible to play with Kobe right now,” Rondo said. “I’m focused on playing with Dirk (Nowitzki), Monte (Ellis), Tyson (Chandler), J.J. Bare and playing for Rick Carlisle. That’s my team right now.”
