Darren Collison goes with upstart Q4 for his new kicks
By Ben Gibson
Indiana Pacers point guard Darren Collison goes with upstart Q4 for his new sneaker deal. He isn’t the only NBA player, or Pacer, to wear them.
Every brand starts somewhere. Nike runs the world of sports apparel now, but 40 or so years ago they were starting off by sponsoring Steve Prefontaine, an Olympic runner but one that was still working bar shifts to make ends meet. Darren Collison isn’t working late nights between Indiana Pacers games, but the shoe brand Q4 is looking to make their name by signing the point guard to his own shoe deal.
Along with E’Twaun Moore and Langston Galloway, Collison is the third NBA player to sign a deal with the company. Collison wore the Q4 495 Lo model this season.
After the season finished, Hoops Hype’s Bryan Kalbrosky talked with Collison about the “unconventional” route he was taking with Q4.
Along with enjoying the comfort of the shoe, Collison is looking forward to designing his own shoe with the company and taking his own path.
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"What are some of the things you plan to do with your special design now that you’re with the company?DC: It’s still coming along. I’ve got two of my best friends that I grew up with and we’re working on designing them right now. We’re getting some really good feedback, too. That’s the best thing about the whole situation here. We get to have our own input and we don’t have to go out there and take whatever they give us. Basically, we’re telling them what we want."
"Do you expect more players around the league to take similarly unconventional approaches with their sneaker deals?DC: I think they should. Whatever is in the best interest of the player. I think you have to look out for your own brand, your own career and see where you can get the best deal. People sign shoe deals but don’t have any say in it but just go with the flow."
While it is easy to think every startup now is just another Big Baller Brand, Q4 is taking a smart approach by not swinging for the fences on day one. Collison, Galloway, and Moore might not be household names, but more importantly for Q4, their shoes are out there to be seen.
Along with being seen, they look good (I think, I’m terrible at knowing what’s cool these days), and are reviewing well.
And hey, Lance Stephenson wears them, too. He had previously worn And-1’s thanks to a 3-year deal with the company, but this season he wore a number of brands since he wasn’t under contract.
As long as Darren’s feet are comfortable and healthy, Indiana Pacers fans shouldn’t worry too much about his walk on a path less traveled. Fans will have to wait and see what his own pair will look like, but they have to look better than Stephen Curry’s did, right?