Former NBA star Grant Hill revealed that he initially wanted to sign an endorsement deal with Nike before eventually agreeing to a reported five-year, $30 million contract with Fila early in his professional career.
Hill, who entered the NBA in 1994 as the third overall pick by the Detroit Pistons, explained that Nike was his preferred choice when he began exploring potential footwear partnerships.
The former Duke standout visited Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, where he met company co-founder Phil Knight and discussed plans for his introduction to the NBA.
According to Hill, Nike even considered arranging for him to appear at the Great Wall of China via satellite during the 1994 NBA Draft, reflecting the company’s interest in expanding basketball’s international appeal.
“I wanted to go with Nike and we had a great visit to Beaverton. We met with Phil Knight and they were going to actually have me at the Great Wall of China via satellite for the NBA draft. Even then in 1994, he was thinking about the Far East, and so it shows his imagination and being a visionary. But the deal kind of fell through and it’s like, ‘Let’s go over here to Baltimore and look at Fila.’”
After negotiations with Nike failed to produce an agreement, Hill and his representatives turned their attention to Fila, which was looking to establish a stronger presence in the basketball footwear market.
Hill recalled being impressed by the financial terms presented during his meeting with the company.
The reported $30 million agreement ultimately convinced him to sign with Fila rather than continue pursuing Nike.
“I still remember we’re in the meeting and they’re going through the stuff and then the last page was the money, and I was like, ‘Ooh.’ We went ahead and did it and the first shoe for whatever reason took off. I mean, even Method Man wore it in a video. It was crazy. It was a fun time.”
