- Puma signed a slew of talented NBA rookies to compete with the likes of Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour.
- Despite being one of the signees, top overall pick Deandre Ayton was seen wearing Nike during Summer League.
- Ayton said that Puma was still working to make shoes that could manage his size 18 feet.
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Puma is making a big splash in the NBA, but the brand has run into a problem with one star rookie because his feet are too big
Deandre Ayton is one of the high profile rookies Puma has signed as it attempts to break into the NBA shoe market — but the brand is struggling to keep him comfortable.
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Puma made its intentions clear ahead of the 2018 NBA draft, signing soon-to-be stars like Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III, and Zhaire Smith to show that the brand was ready to get back into the basketball shoe game and compete with the likes of Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour.
But as the rookies made their NBA Summer League debuts, first overall pick Ayton has been seen on the court wearing Nike's despite the deal. While some fans were confused at first, Ayton's lack of Pumas isn't due to a contract dispute, but rather a simple logistical issue — Puma is yet to make shoes that can adequately handle his size 18 feet.
According to Bleacher Report's Master Tesfatsion, Ayton said that Puma is still working to get his kicks right for the court.
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