China-based Peak shoes is trying to get its foot in the Nike-dominated basketball shoe market, and it has grabbed another NBA star to get there.
Dwight Howard showed up to his youth camp this weekend wearing Peak, and he confirmed a deal that had been long rumored (Peak had tweeted about it before). Here is what he said to the media, including Fox News 26 of Houston:“I had a great run with Adidas. Peak is an up and coming company and we’re really looking forward to helping them grow in the States....
“A brand like Peak that has an opportunity to really grow and become a global brand, it’s something that the owner, myself, and everybody under him is looking forward to do.
“I am very blessed,” Howard added. “I had a chance to meet the owner of the company in China. Even though he couldn’t speak any English, we had a great conversation. He’s a great guy. We all have the same goals, so I’m very excited and happy about where I’m at.”
Peak already has a number of NBA players wearing their shoes, including Tony Parker and George Hill. However, Howard is the biggest brand, the most marketable player to make the move. He’s a big player with a big personality, although the rule of thumb is that guards and wings are the players that really sell shoes.
Nike — led by the Jordan brand — still dominate controlling 90 percent of the basketball shoe market. Nike also has LeBron James’ line, the biggest selling of the active players. Adidas and Under Armour — which has Stephen Curry as their main endorser — are the next two in market share. Peak is trying to break into that market globally.
