Adidas may have lost to Nike in the LeBron James derby last year, but believes it is the winner in this year’s quest for the next big National Basketball League superstar. The shoe and apparel manufacturer has signed New York City high school star Sebastian Telfair to a deal reportedly worth $15 million.
Adidas spokesman Travis Gonzolez said the company and Telfair have had a relationship since the player became the first incoming ninth-grader to attend an Adidas basketball camp.
“In getting to know him, we saw a charisma that made him someone we wanted to represent us,” Gonzolez said. “When you look at the 10 or so high school players entering the draft, and you see the way he has handled the media, we felt Sebastian was that guy.”
But comparing Telfair to James, Gonzolez said, would be like comparing apples to oranges.
“With LeBron there was this global perspective. With Sebastian you have more of an East Coast following. Sebastian wasn’t thrown down everyone’s throat like LeBron was.”
Telfair is also the cousin of New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury, who is a pitchman for shoemaker And1.
Telfair, who is only 5-foot-10, will try to be the first-ever point guard to go directly from high school directly to the NBA when the league holds its draft on June 24.
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