Alijah Arenas says that he’ll sign with Adidas just like his dad, Gilbert.
TMZ reports that the five-star high school basketball player told the outlet he plans on following in his father’s footsteps and signing with Adidas. There’s no word on the monetary figure of the contract.
Gilbert Arenas was previously signed to Adidas with an eight-year contract for $40 million dollars. In a recent interview, he explained how he negotiated such an astronomical figure during a meeting with Adidas.
"I said, 'No matter what number they say, I'mma get up and walk out,’” Gilbert recalled on an episode of No Chill with Gilbert Arenas. “At this point, I'm asking for $2 million so they're like, 'Yeah, we're gonna give you an eight-year, $2 million a year contract.' I'm like, 'I knew they was gonna do this,' and got up and walked out."
"This is how everyone gets messed up because you turn down guaranteed money," Arenas added. "I'm sitting in my room like, 'I think I really messed up. I'm about to call these people and just be like yeah, yeah, I accept. Then they're gonna turn it down, they're gonna be like $1.5 million or take some years off.'"
Minutes later, though, Arenas said that his agent came to him with a suggestion.
"They want to know what do you think you're worth," said Arenas, recalling what his agent said. "So I'm confused; I get to make up my own number? He said, 'Yeah, what do you think you're worth?' Man, tell them like 40."
Adidas ended up agreeing to his counteroffer, but the deal didn’t last long. Arenas lost the contract in 2010 when he pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license after he brought four unloaded guns into the Verizon Center.
Alijah Arenas is now set to continue his dad's basketball legacy. He’s the No. 7 overall player and the No. 1 shooting guard in the 2025 recruiting class. The 18-year-old recently committed to the University of Southern California, plus impressed during the McDonald’s All-American game when he helped the West team earn a hard-fought victory.
