Harden to join Adidas from Nike with 13-year contract

Adidas has taken Houston Rockets guard James Harden away from Nike with a 13-year, 200-million-US-dollar offer.

Harden's agent Rob Pelinka confirmed on Thursday that Nike would not match the term sheet from Adidas. In the six years with Nike, the three-time All-Star has never had a signature shoe. The deal with Adidas will have Harden wear Adidas shoes on the court and gear in social settings, which will officially begins on Oct. 1.

"We're a brand of creators and James embodies that more than any athlete in the game," Chris Grancio, adidas Global Basketball General Manager, said in a statement. "His addition to the adidas basketball family is a game changer. This partnership gives him the opportunity to achieve his goals and express himself in a totally new way as a creator. He's already one of the most recognizable sports figures because of his game, his look, his hunger to win and his style on the off the court. His ceiling is far from reached, which tells you the future for him and our brand looks incredible."

Harden averaged 27.4 points, seven assists and 5.7 rebounds last season. Although falling short to the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry in the race for league MVP last season that is voted on by media members, Harden was chosen the Players Choice MVP by his NBA contemporaries later. Endi