Former NBA forward Chandler Parsons criticized Chinese sportswear company Anta, claiming that its basketball shoes were so uncomfortable that they may have contributed to the knee problems he experienced during his career.
Parsons, who began his NBA career with the Houston Rockets in 2011, explained that his endorsement agreement with Anta was particularly lucrative during his rookie season, paying him more than his NBA contract.
Despite the financial benefits, Parsons said he was dissatisfied with the company’s footwear.
Parsons: “I remember as a rookie I was making more money on my shoe deal than I was by the Rockets, it’s a Chinese brand called Anta.”
Host: “What was that like, walking with Chinese shoes on the NBA court?”
Parsons: “Awful. It was terrible. I swear that’s part of the reason why I f*cked up my knees. They were so bad that I would literally wear Jordans, and because they would let me, I was supposed to make my own shoe and go to China to do this whole thing.”
Parsons believes the quality of the shoes may have played a role in his injury problems, although there is no established medical evidence linking Anta footwear to his knee injuries.
The former Rockets forward also mentioned Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson, who has maintained a long-standing endorsement relationship with Anta and experienced significant injuries during his NBA career.
“Klay Thompson’s still with them, Look at his injuries.”
Parsons went on to explain that he sometimes avoided wearing Anta shoes altogether, choosing to play in Air Jordans instead.
To conceal the competing brand’s logo, he covered the Jumpman symbol with duct tape while wearing the shoes during NBA games.
“I would literally put a duct tape over the Jumpman logo and I would wear Jordans in the NBA games, just because they were paying me so much money.”
Parsons also discussed why Anta was interested in signing him, pointing to the Houston Rockets’ popularity in China.
The franchise had developed a substantial following in the country through Yao Ming, while Jeremy Lin’s arrival further increased interest in the team among Chinese basketball fans.
Parsons said those connections helped make him an attractive endorsement partner for the company, even though he was unhappy with its products.
“The NBA is so big in China, and I was on Houston when Yao Ming and Jeremy Lin were there. So it was a huge market there for Houston Rockets players, and I had a great relationship with them. But,their products stinks…”
Looking back, Parsons said he would have preferred signing with a company such as Nike, even if that meant accepting a smaller endorsement contract.
He acknowledged that many players choose lucrative footwear agreements but suggested that the quality of the shoes should be a greater consideration.
“A lot of people do it too. A lot of people do it and sign it. But looking back on it, I’d rather take less bread and go with, a Nike.”
