While Victor Wembanyama is an absolute lock to go first in this year’s NBA Draft, Scoot Henderson’s future isn’t quite as set in stone. The 19-year-old guard from the G League Ignite will likely go second or third, which would see him land in Charlotte or Portland, respectively. 

What we do know for certain is that Henderson is a Puma man. That decision was made last year before Scoot was even draft-eligible. Because Henderson opted to play for the NBA G League’s development team instead of the NCAA, he was able to sign a shoe contract before being able to declare for the draft. College athletes can now sign NIL deals, but their respective institution’s relationship with sportswear brands precludes them from signing their own such deal. 

Henderson and Puma inked a multi-year deal worth “seven figures” annually, according to a report from The Athletic. The historic contract set a record for the most valuable given to a player not yet eligible to go professional. He was also the first G League Ignite player to be given a shoe deal, and reports indicate the value could reach eight figures annually if certain incentives are met. 

In the lead-up to the NBA Draft, Henderson headlined Puma’s introduction of the All-Pro Nitro. His player-exclusive will be the launch colorway for the model, and it’s likely that he’ll continue wearing the All-Pro Nitro until his signature model is revealed. The wait, however, may not be that long. 

Just two weeks prior to the All-Pro Nitro’s unveiling, an image leaked purporting to show Henderson’s first signature sneaker, the Puma Scoot 1. It will reportedly hit shelves this year, which would likely make Henderson the first player from his draft class to be given his own shoe. Wembanyama has been confirmed to stick with Nike as he joins the NBA, but reports also indicate that he’ll begin his journey in models from the GT series. Based on the recent precedent set by other signature athletes from Nike and Jordan brand, we can expect to wait until Wembanyama’s second season for his own model to arrive. 

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