Despite a $1 million per year endorsement deal with sneaker-maker Anta, Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons stepped on the court in Jordans this weekend, according to ESPN. He was sporting the Air Jordan X Retro Venom Green.
Other NBA endorsers of Anta include Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors. He announced his line of Anta sneakers during All-Star Weekend in New York in February. Thompson was recently sighted wearing an old pair of Nike sneakers in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks earlier in March. He reportedly blacked out the swoosh as well, according to Sole Collector.
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Parsons told ESPNDallas.com that he was concerned that his Anta sneakers may have contributed to a sprained ankle that the player suffered on February 20.
“The injury that I had, [Mavs athletic trainer Casey Smith] was telling me how [the Anta shoes] were a little too flexible in the ankle, so I guess they said Jordan Brand had a stiffer shoe. In the meantime, I blacked out the logo and am trying to wear those until my new shoe is out,” stated ESPN.
Parsons is expected to step back on the court Tuesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to ESPN, Anta is tweaking the sneaker to the player’s needs.
Jordan brand sneakers are manufactured by Nike. Anta is a Chinese-based manufacturer founded in 1994.