In His Shoes

Derrick Rose’s shocking decline continues. So why is Adidas still paying him superstar dough?

- L. Jon Wertheim

IF NBA PLAYERS came with a stock price, late February 2012 represented the peak of the market for Derrick Rose. A fearless point guard for the Bulls, Rose was not only the reigning league MVP; at 22, he was also the youngest player ever to win the award. He had currency and street cred to burn. This was a time when LeBron James had zero NBA titles and polarised fans, still chafed by his Decision. Kobe Bryant was aging. The work-in-progress Warriors would finish that lockout shortened season 23–43.

Rose’s agents were aggressively renegotiating his deal with Adidas, and during All- Star weekend Rose re-signed, consecrating one of the most lucrative endorsement contracts (reported to be worth $185 million over 14 years) in the history of sports.

Recently SI obtained his 40-page contract with Adidas, and the document shows just how far shoe companies are willing to go to accommodate an athlete. The deal called for annual retainers of $12 million per season from 2012–13 until ’16–17. (This season, he is entitled to $11 million.) It also included annual royalties of up to $6.25 million per year, as much as $4.8 million in annual appearance fees and use of a private plane. Reggie Rose, Derrick’s older brother, is paid between $250,000 and $300,000 annually as a consultant. And Adidas also pledged $150,000 per year to the AAU team of Rose’s choice.