Latest news with #SeriousPlayerOnly
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Ivy League Star Turns Heads With Groundbreaking $6 Million NIL Deal
Former Ivy League Star Turns Heads With Groundbreaking $6 Million NIL Deal originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Florida landed one of the top spring transfers in college basketball with Princeton guard Xaivian Lee. The former Ivy League star is already cashing in down in Gainesville. Advertisement Industry sources told On3 that Lee's combined NIL contract with Florida and a new sneaker partnership with Serious Player Only totals more than $6 million. The multi-year deal with SPO is the more lucrative of the two, which includes the opportunity for Lee to launch a signature shoe when he reaches the NBA. The agreement makes Lee the first NCAA athlete to sign a shoe deal with an international brand. It includes immediate signature colorway releases and creative input on design. It's a strategy to grow his influence across Asia and North America. 'Serious Player Only has a really good vision on where they want to be,' Lee said in a statement. 'A lot of their values align with mine.' Advertisement Related: Michigan QB Makes NIL History With Iconic Franchise 'In the world of innovation, true partnership is where vision meets craftsmanship,' said Lee's agent, George Langberg of GSL Sports Group. 'Together, Xaivian Lee and SPO aren't just creating sneakers; they're defining the future of performance, style and culture—one step at a time.' Related: PJ Haggerty Cashes In: $2.5M NIL Deal Fuels Kansas State Transfer Lee, a two-time First Team All-Ivy League selection, averaged 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists last season at Princeton. He chose the Florida over Kansas and St. John's. He fills a critical void in Florida's backcourt following the departure of Walter Clayton Jr. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
01-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
College Star Xaivian Lee Signs Signature Sneaker Deal
College basketball star Xaivian Lee has signed a sponsorship deal with Serious Player Only. College basketball star and NBA prospect Xaivian Lee already has a deal for a signature sneaker. The Toronto native who played at Princeton and is now with the University of Florida signed a deal with Serious Player Only for a multi-year brand sponsorship that includes a future signature shoe. 'SPO is a young and upcoming brand with a strong belief in their products and future,' Lee tells me, 'similar to how I view my own story.' Oigi Yang, CEO and co-founder of Serious Player Only, says that Lee brings innovation, craft and an unstoppable work ethic that can inspire. 'Xaivian is more than a rising star,' Yang says, 'he's a cultural bridge, and we're proud to walk this global journey with him. This partnership represents more than just a brand and athlete endorsement, it's a statement about the future of sports branding.' The new deal for Xaivian Lee includes a future signature sneaker. Yang says value-driven brands can stand 'toe-to-toe with legacy giants' by having a focused understanding of their audience. With basketball continuing to expand globally—and with young players—Lee says that upcoming athletes gaining more notoriety could be the future of sports branding. 'I wouldn't be surprised to see similar, innovating things like this in the future,' the 21-year-old says about signing a signature deal so early in his career. George Langberg, founder and CEO of GSL Sports Group, helped craft the sponsorship deal and says the combining of Lee and SPO offers a partnership where 'vision meets craftsmanship.' MORE: Xero Shoes Set To Release X1 Basketball Shoe Worn In NBA SPO, which already has Toronto Raptors Jonathan Mogbo, the first NBA player to sign with the brand, and a top-ranked high school point guard in Emilee Skinner, adding Lee will be about more than just another name on the roster. The brand has committed to a future signature shoe, immediate signature colorway releases and full creative freedom in a collaborative design process as the brand looks to amplify Lee's influence 'across Asia and North America.' Xaivian Lee is from Toronto and will play at Florida next season after playing at Princeton ... More previously. 'I'm excited to be a part of the creative process in both the shoes and clothing,' Lee says. 'I want to inject my sense of style into their already existing ideas and create something special.' From a performance point of view, Lee says SPO's different sneaker models 'strike a nice balance of performance, functionality and style.' A key feature of SPO footwear is the interchangeable insoles, providing differing performance needs. 'I enjoy the optionality with the different insoles to adjust to my needs,' Lee says. Lee's looking forward to seeing where Serios Player Only heads and how he can be a part of that. 'Looking for a brand to partner with, I thought Serious Player Only has a really good vision on where they want to be,' he says. 'I'm really excited to see where the brand can go in the future and how I can be a part of that and help bolster it even more. I love seeing how Serious Player Only is growing across regions and building something unique globally as a young and upcoming brand.' MORE: On's The Roger Footwear Line Modernizing And Growing
