Dive Brief:
- Skechers on Wednesday announced that it’s entering the professional basketball market with the launch next week of two new shoes. The mid-top style shoes, SKX Resagrip and SKX Float, combine innovative technology with comfort, the company said in a press release.
- Julius Randle of the New York Knicks and Terance Mann of the Los Angeles Clippers will be the first professional basketball players to compete in Skechers basketball shoes. Randle and Mann have signed on as brand ambassadors and will represent the footwear brand in campaigns.
- Skechers said its basketball footwear collection will be available next week at its online store, at select Skechers retail stores in North America, and at select retailers and Skechers stores in the Philippines and China.
Dive Insight:
Although Skechers is best known for offering casual, comfortable shoes, the company in recent years has actively been stepping deeper into the performance and athletic footwear sector.
The company has invested in pickleball by sponsoring major events and signing pro pickleball athletes and brand ambassadors. Skechers announced in August it planned to launch its first soccer cleats, the SKX_01, in the U.K. and Europe.
In conjunction with introducing the soccer cleats, Skechers signed pro soccer player Harry Kane of England, who plays for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich in Germany. Skechers also makes specialized shoes for golf and signed pro golfer Matt Fitzpatrick to its brand ambassador roster last year. Skechers is represented in the MLB by Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kershaw signed a multiyear deal with Skechers in 2019.
Skechers is also said to be courting Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers to join its basketball brand ambassador roster, The Athletic reported earlier this month. Embiid was seen wearing Skechers shoes during a recent practice, and the brand’s performance staff were on location, according to the report.
“Following our road map for success as a breakthrough brand in running, golf, pickleball, and global football, we’re leveraging the insight and feedback of pros like Julius Randle and Terance Mann to authenticate our position as a performance brand with the best basketball shoes on the court,” Greg Smith, vice president of product development and merchandising for Skechers Performance, said in a statement.
Skechers describes its SKX Resagrip as a blend of form and function that offers “next-level cushioning and responsiveness to accommodate quick and explosive movements,” while the SKX Float sneaker offers stability, flexibility and a good court feel. Both shoes include the company’s Skechers Hyper Burst cushioning in the midsole and a Hyper Burst Pro sock liner.
Mann called his Skechers shoes “the real deal” and said they reflect his style, adding, “I love that Skechers is an L.A.-based brand. I can meet in person at any time to talk about the shoes and really partner with them. They’re giving me everything that I need, and I’m looking forward to competing in Skechers.”
Randle, for his part, said it's “an incredible experience" to work with Skechers. “They’re new to the sport, so we have the opportunity to do exciting things outside the box in a positive and impactful way,” Randle said.
