The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

While joining the growing list of players affected by COVID-19 health and safety protocols in the National Basketball Association, Phoenix Suns’ centre Deandre Ayton also benefitted from a lucrative deal off the court.

It was announced yesterday that the 6-foot, 11-inch Bahamian player inked another deal with Puma - a deal that was negotiated by Nima Namakian of Innovative Sports Group. It’s the second time that the footwear and apparel company has endorsed Ayton.

When he was selected by Phoenix as the No.1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Puma stepped up and offered Ayton his first shoe deal as they re-launched their basketball category. That same year, four other first round picks joined Ayton in signing deals with Puma.

“It’s pretty lit. It’s truly a blessing as well,” Ayton told ESPN.

“The reason I signed with Puma from the beginning is I wanted to be different.”

Among the list of players with Puma contracts in the NBA are LaMelo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and RJ Barrett. There are also four players in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), who are also spotting Puma sneakers.

For his decision to be different, Puma will place Ayton among the NBA’s top-three highest paid athletic brand endorsers at the pivotal position of the game that he has helped to re-create some more interest in his performance for the Suns over the past two seasons.

According to Ayton, Puma was all the shoe he had an affinity for while growing up in the Bahamas and he was even thrilled when he saw one of his Caribbean idols Usain Bolt rocking his pair of shoes in the world of track and field.

“Growing up in the Bahamas, the first brand really that I wore was Puma. That’s all we saw was Puma,” Ayton further revealed in his interview with ESPN.

“A guy like Usain Bolt, who I looked up to as a star of the Caribbean and the face of the Caribbean when it comes to sports, that’s the only thing that he was repping. Puma was everywhere.”

As a part of his contractual obligation, Ayton first wore the “RS-X Deandre” sneakers with colours that depicted the crystal clear blue waters in the Bahamas as he helped to raise funds to assist those persons affected by Hurricane Dorian in Grand Bahama and Abaco.

In demonstrating his respect to Bolt, who has left an impeccable impression on the world as the fastest man that ever lived, Ayton presented the Jamaican icon with a pair of his sneakers.

This summer, Ayton also provided a pair of Puma to the entire Suns staff.

Even though his deal allows him to continue to showcase Puma’s latest hoop models like the Court Rider and the RS-X Dreamer on the court, Ayton will be working off the court to provide a product that could suit the budget of the average fan.

In a typical style to his upbringing in the Bahamas where Ayton said a neighbour or friend could not leave his home in Nassau Village and not “get a belly full.”

Ayton, along with his mother, Andrea, have been touching lives with their philanthropic efforts whenever they discover those in need, not just in Phoenix or New York, but in the Bahamas and the Caribbean as well as Africa, the latter three regions where he’s had a touch of his roots.

He noted that his mom has teamed up with Puma, sharing her ideas on how to give back, considering where they came from when second-hand clothes were the order of the day.

Now in a much better position, Ayton said they try to give back as much as they can.

Ayton, however, is hoping that he will get back on the court to help the Suns in their journey to return to the NBA finals for the second straight year.

Last year, they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. On Monday, Ayton skipped the Suns’ game - a 114-113 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies - after reportedly missing coronavirus testing on Sunday.

Ayton is expected to rejoin the team when his results are available.

The Suns, currently on a two-game losing streak and sitting in second place in the Western Conference at 26-7 behind the front running Golden State Warriors (27-6), will close out the year on Friday night against the Boston Celtics.

The Suns, coached by Monty Williams, are expected to begin the new year in 2022 when they are scheduled to face the Hornets on January 2.

Ayton, 23, was embattled with a contractual issue with Phoenix after he tried to secure the rookie’s maximum deal at the beginning of the season. He’s currently averaging 17 points and 11.1 rebounds per game as he continues to develop into one of the more dominant big men in the NBA today.