By Brian Mahoney, Basketball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --NBA teams will no longer be outfitted by Adidas after the 2016-17 season, as the shoemaker and sports gear company said Monday it wouldn't renew its partnership with the league.
The league had already informed Adidas that it was opening the bidding for the next contract, according to a person familiar with the process. The NBA is to expected to announce a new partnership sometime around its Board of Governors meeting next month, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details are still being finalized.
But Adidas, which has slipped to No. 3 in sporting apparel sales in the U.S., behind Nike and Under Armour, said in a statement that it wouldn't bid.
The company, based in Herzogenaurach, Germany, said that "while we have enjoyed a successful long-term relationship with the league, we continually review our partner agreements to ensure they are meeting out investment and delivering on our brand and business needs."
Adidas became the exclusive outfitter for the NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League in 2006 under an 11-year deal. Adidas supplies the NBA with uniforms and holds the rights to NBA-branded merchandise worldwide.
It also has individual endorsement deals with top NBA players such as Chicago's Derrick Rose, Houston's Dwight Howard and All-Stars Damian Lillard of Portland and John Wall of Washington.
Global brands head Erich Stamminger left the company last year and CEO and Chairman Herbert Hainer had recently announced he would step down, leadership shake-ups that could have created uncertainty for the NBA.
That could leave the door for Nike, the partner before Adidas, to move back in, or Under Armour, which has seen its basketball business grow thanks to the success of Golden State star Stephen Curry.
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More