Under Armour's latest signee isn't one of the prospective lottery picks in this week's NBA draft, but it is someone who'll be talking about them. The brand just announced a five-year partnership with ESPN analyst Jay Bilas.
A company that's admitted its need to become cooler, younger, and "more fashion," Under Armour will be outfitting the 53-year-old television personality "head-to-toe in the brand’s innovative footwear and apparel."
While endorsement deals with sports commentators aren't an entirely new phenomenon, those have typically been for former pros with legacy deals, like Charles Barkley with Nike or Shaquille O'Neal with Reebok. Bilas, however, is primarily known for his TV career.
“I'm so honored to be part of the Under Armour family,” Bilas said in a press release. “Everything about UA screams cutting edge technology, high-level performance, innovation, and impeccable style. That's all I've ever wanted to be.”
At one time, Bilas also wanted to be a basketball player. The analyst played four seasons for the Duke Blue Devils, and was even drafted by the Dallas Mavericks. While he never actually played for the Mavs, he did play a few pro seasons overseas. He still hosts a skills camp, which UA will also be sponsoring as part of the partnership.
