Skechers Might Benefit From Joel Embiid's 70-Point Game
There was an explosion of offense around the NBA last night on the 18th anniversary of Kobe Bryant's 81-point game. Of all the exciting highlights, Joel Embiid stole the show with his 70-point performance in the Philadelphia 76ers' win over the San Antonio Spurs.
While Bryant's career-high coincided perfectly with his first signature sneaker with Nike, Embiid's historic night took place in a state of footwear purgatory. The reigning MVP's signature sneaker deal with Under Armour expired in October, and his next landing spot has not yet been announced.
Earlier this season, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Embiid took to the 76ers practice court in Skechers basketball shoes, and he would begin wearing Skechers during games once his contract was fully completed.
It has been over three months since that report, and Embiid continues to wear his old Under Armour shoes with the logo concealed. However, Nick DePaula of Boardroom recently said, "Rumblings emerged that his eventual next deal will be announced in the coming months, potentially ahead of All-Star Weekend."
Joel Embiid's Under Armour shoes have the logos painted over.
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
It is unlikely that Embiid and Skechers get so close to a sneaker deal only to let it fall apart. Instead, timing the announcement with the 2024 NBA All-Star Game and the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, France makes much more sense from a marketing perspective.
Skechers has made great strides in the performance footwear industry in recent years. The brand had already expanded into baseball and golf before entering the basketball market in October.
At the start of the 2023-24 NBA season, Skechers announced the signings of New York Knicks center Julius Randle and Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann. Since then, Skechers has unveiled a full lineup of basketball shoes that have received positive views from athletes and fans.
Opportunities for a brand entering a new market to sign the reigning MVP fresh off a 70-point game do not happen very often. Embiid's performance last night could result in a slam dunk for Skechers in the sneaker industry. Follow FanNationKicks.com for all your footwear news from the sports world.
