Puma planning return to basketball with Trae Young as signature star
Puma is planning on a return to basketball apparel by signing the hottest sneaker free agent in the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft.
Oklahoma freshman guard Trae Young has drawn significant interest from lifestyle apparel company Puma, which plans on pitching the electric scorer later this week with a prototype of an upcoming basketball sneaker, according to ESPN's Nick DePaula.
Sources also tell DePaula that Puma would look to bolster its roster by surrounding Young with other existing NBA players.
"The possibility to be the seminal piece to re-establish that category for Puma is what's enticing," Young's agent Omar Wilkes said.
Puma's last major basketball client was Vince Carter, but that deal fell apart within two years as Carter pivoted to Nike.
The 19-year-old Young drew comparisons to Stephen Curry after he averaged 27.4 points and 8.7 assists in his freshman season. Young's limitless shooting range was the must-watch show of the 2017-18 collegiate basketball season.
Young is also drawing interest from Nike, Under Armour, and Adidas.