Adidas designs shoe without logo for Croatian PF Dragan Bender
Adidas has designed a pair a shoes for Croatian star power forward Dragan Bender that have no visible logo on the outside, according to David Pick of BasketballInsiders.com.
The move likely comes in response to a dispute between Bender and the Croatian National Team that kept the 18-year-old from playing in the FIBA U19 world championships in July.
Bender, who has an exclusive shoe deal with Adidas, was barred from playing by the national team, which is partnered with Jordan and Nike.
Bender’s professional team, Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, is also sponsored by Nike.
• Just for Kicks: Rising star Bender leaves FIBA U19s over sneaker dispute
The shoe itself is a simple blue and yellow design, the colors of Maccabi Tel Aviv, and has Bender’s jersey number at the top of the tongue.
The only Adidas marker on the shoe is hidden on the insole of the shoe.
Bender is the top international prospect who could possibly declare for the 2016 draft. He is currently projected to go with the No. 4 pick in the Draft Express 2016 mock draft.
