Jason Kidd dumps Nike for Peak

It's been a big NBA offseason for players turning down mediocre paychecks and no playing time in the U.S. and going overseas where opportunities are more prevalent.

Is Jason Kidd next? OK, he'll still play for the Dallas Mavericks this season, but the footwear he'll sport no longer will have the Swoosh. Before making his trip back to the U.S. after the Beijing Games, Kidd announced he will wear shoes made by Peak, a Chinese company, and ditch Nike. The timing on Kidd's departure is interesting, because the market in the U.S. has been flooded recently with many of his old retro classics. Kidd also spent a brief time sporting Jordans in his career.

One of the things that David Stern will be most noted for his how he helped to internationalize the game of basketball. The European defections so far and the likelihood of a huge increase in defections going forward shouldn't surprise anyone.

I guess the next logical step is foreign sponsorships of NBA players.