The recognition continues to roll in for Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet.
After earning a vote for Finals MVP in June and receiving praise from one of the best players in the league, he has now earned an endorsement deal with AND1 that will put him at the forefront of the brand.
While VanVleet has been spotted wearing AND1 sneakers throughout the early part of the 2019-20 NBA season, ESPN reporter Nick DePaula took to Twitter to announce the signing
Raptors guard @FredVanVleet has signed a shoe deal with AND1 to become the current face of the brand.
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) November 16, 2019
He’s been playing in the new Attack 2.0 model while averaging 17 points & 7.6 assists per game. pic.twitter.com/c6mHngg6CW
VanVleet began his career wearing Nike sneakers before transitioning to Adidas, which he wore all throughout his impressive playoff run in 2019 that played a large role in the Raptors winning their first-ever title.
The notoriety VanVleet gained through his performance during Toronto's title run resulted in his being a highly-coveted "sneaker free agent" and ultimately, resulted in AND1's confidence in making him the face of a brand that looks to re-emerge in the hoops scene.
In a way, there's an element of things coming full circle for AND1, a brand that was worn by Vince Carter as he did his part in putting Toronto basketball on the scene. Most notably, Carter's unforgettable performance in the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest came while wearing AND1 sneakers.
Some say it must be the shoes, and VanVleet certainly provides credence to that assertion as he is averaging 17.1 points and 7.6 assists while shooting 40.6% from beyond the arc as he's adapting to his new role as a full-time starter through Toronto's first 11 games.
Whether or not VanVleet's role with AND1 will result in him earning his own signature shoe remains to be seen but he is sure to have a large impact on their brand.
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