When Under Armour announced it had signed Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid in October 2018, the partnership seemed promising. At the time, Embiid said his deal would be about more than shoes and basketball, and promised “a few surprises” for both the Philly community and “the rest of the world.” He also stated he would have an Under Armour signature shoe.
Five years later, the deal with Under Armour has come to an end, and Embiid is now reportedly a Skechers athlete. FN has reached out to Skechers for comment.
Under Armour confirmed with FN via email that its deal with Embiid came to an end in October 2023.
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“We are proud of our work with Joel Embiid and want to thank him for the partnership over the last five years. Joel has cemented himself as one of the basketball greats, earning the title of MVP of the 2022-2023 NBA season, and setting an incredible example of perseverance for ball players everywhere who are determined to beat the odds. We wish Joel the best and look forward to seeing what else he accomplishes both on and off the court,” Under Armour said of Embiid in a statement that was emailed to FN.
When the deal with Under Armour was revealed in October 2018, terms were not announced. However, Fashionnetwork.com reported in October 2018 that Under Armour “offered Embiid a number of extras,” such as custom-made footwear, additional charity commitments in Philadelphia and Cameroo and “potential capsule releases of branded footwear and apparel to come later.”
Under Armour’s signing of Embiid — the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player — significantly bolstered the star power on the brand’s basketball ambassador roster. Prior to the deal, Under Armour’s basketball business was driven primarily by four-time NBA champion Steph Curry.
The partnership between Under Armour and Embiid produced just one signature shoe, the Under Armour Embiid One, which was revealed to select media in January 2020 and then to consumers globally in August 2020. The shoe was designed by longtime Under Armour designer Reggie Wilson, and would hit retail on Sept. 18, 2020, with a $120 price tag.
Although the shoes are no longer available via retail, resale platforms such as StockX have several colorways listed for sale below the original retail price. For instance, the “Origin” colorway — which was the first to release — is available via StockX with pricing as low as $87, and the white and gold look, aptly named “Goldmind,” is listed for as low as $114.
Despite the deal with Under Armour reportedly ending in October 2023, Embiid still wore his Embiid One signature shoe on the court for much of the 2023-24 NBA season. He first wore Skechers shoes, specifically the SKX Float model, on April 2 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia when the 76ers faced the Oklahoma City Thunder. His pair was dressed in several hues, including several shades of pink and a bold green.
The Skechers SKX Float is available via Skechers.com for $150.
Before signing with Under Armour, Embiid laced up shoes from Adidas. The German athletic giant was familiar to him, as we wore styles from the brand during his college basketball days at the University of Kansas.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
