You may not have seen much of Ben Sheppard with the Indiana Pacers last season, as he appeared in 57 games, only started in one, and was on the court for an average of 14.3 minutes per game.
But Pacers fans could get a lot more of Sheppard in the new season.
This was made even more evident on Tuesday when Nick DePaula reported that Sheppard has signed a multi-year shoe deal with Nike.
The specifics of this endorsement deal aren’t known but it could bring Sheppard a lot of money, and a lot of attention.
OFFICIAL: Indiana Pacers wing Ben Sheppard has signed a multi-year shoe deal with Nike.
📄✍️ @ShepBen2
Deal was negotiated by @GeorgeLangberg of GSL Sports Group. pic.twitter.com/7DD7V8RHzB
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) September 23, 2024
Sheppard averaged 4.4 points last season, his first year in the league.
Some people think he could have a bigger presence on the team next season but that isn’t guaranteed, especially with an increasingly crowded roster.
Regardless, this endorsement deal ensures Sheppard will do quite well off the court.
Nike is the biggest name in its industry and they don’t sign just anyone to these sorts of contracts.
Instead, they choose to only work with people who show a lot of promise and could grow more in the years ahead.
There is the possibility of growth for Sheppard, who started the season with a minor role in Indiana but was eventually used more often.
He likely won’t be a part of the starting five in 2024-25, but he could continue to show his potential.
His future with the Pacers isn’t entirely clear but Nike obviously sees a young star in Sheppard, which is why they created this deal.
NEXT:
Pacers Star Going Viral With Wild Dunk