Orlando Magic's Tracy McGrady signs Lifetime Partnership with adidas
Amsterdam, April 30, 2002 - adidas announced today that it has signed a lifetime strategic partnership agreement with Orlando Magic star guard Tracy McGrady. The deal, which is for the duration of McGrady's basketball career and beyond, is the most significant contract adidas has ever signed with a professional athlete.
"This is an unprecedented deal for adidas," stated Erich Stamminger, Member of the Executive Board of adidas-Salomon AG, responsible for Global Marketing. "Tracy is one of the most exciting and respected players in the NBA and we are impressed by his passion both on and off the court. We are excited about his future impact on the sport, our brand and our global basketball business."
McGrady is currently in the final year of his six-year contract with adidas. Earlier this year adidas introduced the T-MAC, its first signature Tracy McGrady basketball shoe, which quickly gave adidas its first number one selling shoe in the U.S. in almost six years.
Since his NBA debut in 1997, McGrady has established himself as one of the league's top players. For the 2001-2002 NBA season McGrady ranked fourth in scoring (25.6) and total points (1,948), third in points per 48 minutes (32.1), fifth in field goal attempts (1,586), fourth in field goals made (715), eighth in free throw attempts (555) and triple-doubles (1). In 2002 McGrady made his second consecutive All-Star appearance, scored 24 points off the bench and had one of the most memorable dunks in All-Star history.
"I am thrilled that adidas will be there with me throughout my basketball career and in what lies beyond," stated McGrady. "adidas has always been a company that has supported me, as far back as high school through the ABCD Camp. This is an exciting time in my life and I am happy that adidas has the confidence in me both as a basketball player and as a person to make this long-term commitment. I am excited about the many projects we will work on together in the upcoming years."
"We continue to aggressively expand our U.S. basketball presence," added Ross McMullin, President and CEO, adidas America. "In 2001 our basketball sales grew nearly 40%; partnering with Tracy will enable us to build on that momentum and further strengthen our position in the U.S. basketball market for the long term."