adidas News Release:
Adidas had recently announced a long-term partnership with
basketball superstar Ricky Rubio of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Growing up in Spain I always loved the adidas brand and
their products,” said Rubio. “The last few years they’ve really changed the
game with new technology and style in basketball shoes and apparel and I can’t
wait to be a part of it.”
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, this past
season Rubio averaged over 10 points, 8 assists and 2 steals in 42 games and
finished second in NBA Rookie of the Year voting in an injury shortened season.
Prior to signing with Minnesota, Rubio helped the Spanish national team win the
Silver Medal at the 2008 Olympics and became the youngest player ever in an
Olympic basketball final. In an impressive European professional career that
began at age 14, Rubio led FC Barcelona Basquet to the 2010 Euroleague title
and was three times named the FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year.
“Ricky Rubio is a once-in-a-generation player,” said Lawrence
Norman, adidas vice president of global basketball. “His work ethic and
selflessness combined with his superior athleticism and playmaking have quickly
made him one of the most exciting young players in the game. When you
watch Ricky on the court and talk to him after practice, you understand his
pure enjoyment of playing basketball and that makes him a perfect fit for our
brand.”
Rubio is the latest addition to the adidas basketball roster
which includes 2010 NBA MVP Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, three-time NBA
Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers and
two-time NBA MVP and four-time NBA Champion Tim Duncan of the San Antonio
Spurs. He joins several adidas players on the 2012 NBA All-Rookie teams
including Kenneth Faried of the Denver Nuggets, Iman Shumpert of the New York
Knicks, Brandon Knight of the Detroit Pistons and MarShon Brooks of the New
Jersey Nets.
Other adidas athletes include WNBA star Candace Parker, FIFA
World Player of the Year Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona, NFL Defensive Rookie of
the Year Von Miller of the Denver Broncos and Heisman Trophy winner Robert
Griffin III of the Washington Redskins.
Rubio will be featured in a variety of upcoming adidas
marketing initiatives and will play a role in the development of basketball
footwear and apparel.
About
adidas
adidas has been providing innovative products for the world’s best athletes for
more than 50 years, from past legends to today’s superstars, such as Derrick
Rose, Dwight Howard and Candace Parker. On April 11, 2006 adidas and the
National Basketball Association signed an 11-year global merchandising
partnership making the adidas brand the official uniform and apparel provider
for the NBA, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the NBA
Development League (D-League) beginning with the 2006-07 NBA season.
