Already a big player in segments such as skateboarding, casual footwear, running, pickleball and, most recently, soccer, to name a few, Skechers is now moving into the technical basketball shoe category with two mid-top styles – the SKX Resagrip and SKX Float. As part of the expansion, the brand has signed endorsement deals with Julius Randle of the New York Knicks and Terance Mann of the Los Angeles Clippers.

And, according to a report in The Athletic, there is “an imminent signing” of Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, who reportedly wore a Skechers shoe for the first time during a recent 76ers practice.

Skechers basketball footwear collection became available earlier this month at skechersbasketball.com and select Skechers retail stores in North America and at retailers and Skechers stores in the Philippines and China. Skechers will release new colors later this fall and low-top versions of both styles in Spring 2024.

“Along with our recent entry into the soccer business, Skechers now offers high-performance footwear for athletes competing in the two biggest sports on the planet,” stated Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers. “This is the start of a long-term investment in basketball with more player partnerships, which is essential for our growth strategy and vision. We’re launching in the three largest stand-alone basketball markets – the U.S., China and the Philippines – with expansion to more regions expected in the future.”

The signings of Randle, who had been with Nike, and Mann, previously with Anta, were also cited in the Atlantic report. Randle and Mann have worn the sneakers during practice and preseason games.

Other athletes endorsed by Skechers include golfers Matt Fitzpatrick and Brooke Henderson, pickleball pros Tyson McGuffin and Catherine Parenteau, and Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw.