Cooper Flagg and New Balance are cookin’!
Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg, viewed by many as the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, has inked a massive NIL shoe endorsement deal with New Balance. (RELATED: ‘Never Won A Championship’: Magic Johnson Fires Back At Anthony Edwards’ Foolish Michael Jordan Comments)
What makes the deal even cooler for Flagg is that New Balance is very connected to his home state of Maine. The true blue American company has a manufacturing factory in Skowhegan, just 25 miles from where he grew up in Newport.
“The connection with New Balance as a family company and a company with Maine roots means a lot to me,” Flagg told ESPN. “That makes this really different and special. My mom used to go to the tent sale for back-to-school shopping there when we were kids. That really aligns the brand with my roots. It’s a perfect fit.”
Cooper Flagg officially signs with @newbalance pic.twitter.com/K8Ufb8nv7s
— Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) August 26, 2024
This is a cool deal for three reasons:
- What I’ve already mentioned, New Balance is tied to Maine, so why not represent where you’re from through them?
- New Balance produces their stuff in America and embraces the “Made In USA” tag.
- You get to become the clear face of the New Balance basketball brand, who doesn’t have one as of yet.
From where I’m sitting, both Cooper and New Balance are winning right now.