Sonny Vaccaro, the legendary sneaker exec who signed Michael Jordan to Nike, also brought Kobe Bryant to Adidas in 1996. Fast forward to 2002, Tracy McGrady became the face of Adidas basketball after Kobe famously turned down a $200 million Adidas offer to go sneaker-free (free agent, but wore various brands). Since then, Adidas has stacked a star-studded roster—James Harden, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, and Anthony Edwards. McGrady left in 2022, but now he’s reuniting with Adidas, bringing the magic full circle. It’s a move that’s equal parts nostalgia and hype, and fans are buzzing.

Tracy “T-Mac” McGrady first linked up with Adidas in 1997 at just 18, before even stepping on an NBA court, locking in a six-year, $12 million deal. Growing up in a tough, drug-plagued neighborhood in

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