*By Michael Teich*
Puma’s integration of music and fashion could be the key to the resurgence of its basketball division, said former ESPN host Bram Weinstein in an interview with Cheddar.
“It’s the one sport that really has a symbiotic relationship with pop culture.”
The athletic brand has inked deals with projected number one overall pick Deandre Ayton, in addition to standout players Marvin Bagley III and Zhaire Smith, but the addition of music mogul JAY-Z might be what gives Puma an edge over rival Nike. Weinstein said that if Nike does not transition from marketing that focuses solely on fitness, it could be a “miss” for them.
“This is a lifestyle thing. This is not necessarily about who’s scoring the most points,” Weinstein said.
Despite signing three of the last number one overall picks in the NBA Draft, Nike has yet to announce a new deal with a prospect from the 2018 draft, which takes place on June 21. Adidas has signed deals with Trae Young and Lonnie Walker IV. Puma has not had a deal with an NBA player since Vince Carter in 1998.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/pumas-full-court-press-on-nike-and-adidas).
The NBA is continuing its push into the sports betting market. The league announced on Cheddar Friday that it inked a deal with UK-based bet365, bringing its total partnerships with sports betting operators to five.
Newsweek's and friend of the show, Steven Asarch joined us to discuss his early thoughts on the upcoming action role-playing video game, The Outer Worlds.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Thursday, October 31, 2019.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Wednesday, October 30, 2019.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Monday, October 28, 2019.
A partnership with food distributor KZ Provisioning, the Mayo Clinic, and celebrity chefs have helped the team figure out what exactly each individual player needs to hit max performance on the court.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Friday, October 18, 2019.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Friday, October 11, 2019.
These are the headlines you Need 2 Know for Tuesday, October 8th, 2019.
Newly-named Papa John's CEO Rob Lynch says the company won't be moving forward with meatless alternatives. His appointment in August to the top job at the pizza chain was cheered by investors, who cite his experience turning around sandwich chain Arby's.
