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Los Angeles Lakers star Alex Caruso is the latest player to join forces with the sneaker brand Anta after signing a multiyear deal with the brand last month.
He debuted the brand's KT Light 4s against the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 18, and the brand officially welcomed him to the family on Monday, per ESPN's Nick DePaula.
DePaula reported that Caruso will be among players to lead promotion of the brand's Z-Up line.
Caruso currently has four shoes available on Anta's website, ranging from $108 to $239.
Golden State Warriors rookie James Wiseman is also a newcomer to the brand and will also promote the Project Z-Up line, according to DePaula. Wiseman joins his teammate Klay Thompson as an ambassador for the brand.
Thompson signed with the Chinese company in 2015, and it designed his signature shoe, the KT Fire, according to its website.
In addition to Caruso and the pair of Golden State stars, the brand has also collaborated with former NBA greats as well as other newcomers. Other players with shoes available on the website include Rajon Rondo, Gordon Hayward, Kevin Garnett and Precious Achiuwa.
Klay Thompson's endorsement deal with Chinese shoe company Anta reportedly will not be affected by Daryl Morey's tweet in support of the Hong Kong protestors, according to Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic.
Per that report, Anta publicly announced it would "suspend contract negotiations with the NBA," making it one of several Chinese companies and broadcasters to react to Morey's since-deleted "Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong" tweet.
But per Thompson's report, that fallout won't include Anta's signature athlete:
"I'm told Thompson's deal is not in jeopardy. Thompson is the face of the brand. In 2016, he re-upped with the Chinese shoe company for a 10-year deal worth up to $80 million. His shoe sales have grown exponentially since he first signed with Anta in 2014. Thompson and his shoe company are expecting big things out of their relationship."
Per that report, Anta expects to sell over a million pairs of the KT5, Thompson's latest signature shoe. The KT4 sold over 750,000 pairs. The sneaker line has come a long way—his first signature shoe sold just 100,000 pairs. Much as Thompson has ascended to NBA stardom, so to has his sneaker grown in popularity.
