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Simmons no shoo-in for big pay day

Australian teenager Ben Simmons is expected to be offered a shoe deal with adidas or Nike well below the speculated $US100 million mark.

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Source: AAP


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Australian teenager Ben Simmons is being courted by shoe giants adidas and Nike, but he won't be getting anywhere near the much-publicised $US100 million contract.

The 19-year-old is expected to be offered five-year shoe deals worth around $US2.2 million ($A2.95 million) to $US2.5 million ($A3.35 million), Yahoo! Sports reported.

The figures are similar to the rookie contracts previous incoming number one NBA Draft picks Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Davis and John Wall received.

Adidas representatives are expected to meet with Simmons' US agents in Los Angeles on Thursday to pitch their offer.

Nike will make their pitch on the weekend.

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In March, former Nike marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro, who signed a young Michael Jordan to his first sneaker deal, said he would not be "astonished" if Melbourne-born Simmons snared a $US100 million-plus shoe contract.

Simmons' stock has likely been hurt since by the failure of his college team, Louisiana State University, to make the end-of-season NCAA tournament.

LeBron James set the rookie record with a seven-year $US90 million contract with Nike while another All-Star, Kevin Durant, scored a seven-year $US60 million deal with Nike.

Simmons' deal will likely have financial incentives added, although both companies are not expected to offer him his own signature shoe.

However, he might get exclusive custom-coloured versions of their established shoes.

The 208cm tall Simmons, who can play any position on the basketball court, is still expected to be the No.1 pick in June's NBA Draft.


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