2018 has taken Kawhi Leonard to a new team and a new shoe sponsor.
The Toronto Raptors forward agreed to sign an endorsement deal with New Balance, NBA sources first told Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes on Wednesday and later confirmed to ESPN’s Nick DePaula. Leonard will become the highest-profile member of New Balance’s basketball roster and reportedly will earn a hefty salary for doing so.
Leonard wore Jordan Brand sneakers for the first seven years of his NBA career but parted ways with the Nike subsidiary last month.
The sneaker change marks Leonard’s second major switch of the year. The Raptors acquired him in July from the San Antonio Spurs in a blockbuster trade. Leonard has thrived in Toronto so far, averaging 24.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals, leading the Raptors to an NBA-best 18-4 record.
