NEW YORK, Apr 12, 2006/ --- In a joint announcement yesterday, sporting giant adidas and the NBA revealed that they have signed an 11-year global marketing partnership that will make the adidas brand the official uniform and apparel provider for the NBA, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the NBA Development League (D-League) beginning with the 2006-07 NBA season.

According the the agreement, adidas and the NBA will also collaborate at retail with an increased adidas presence at the world's only NBA Store, on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

adidas will create an adidas-NBA concept shop that will be the prototype for additional retail development around the world. In addition, adidas will sell a full range of NBA products throughout its retail locations around the world including the 2,100 adidas stores in China.

The new merchandising relationship with adidas comes as a result of the Group's January 2006 acquisition of Reebok International Ltd., the NBA's exclusive uniform and apparel provider since 2001 and includes rights to sell apparel and casual and performance footwear in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia.

Reebok will continue to be a global marketing partner of the NBA and will maintain the ability to create NBA branded footwear.

As part of the agreement, adidas will design, manufacture, and market products for a wide assortment of unique NBA apparel collections utilizing the latest fabrics and technology featured in adidas branded apparel and footwear.

"This partnership deepens our relationship with a sports league that continues to soar in global popularity," said Erich Stamminger, President and CEO of the adidas Brand. "We are building a foundation on which we can grow the sport of basketball globally."

adidas and the NBA plan to support the partnership through an integrated mix of global marketing and media initiatives, including NBA Europe Live presented by EA Sports in 2006 and 2007, as well as grassroots events and branded media programs throughout the 215 countries in which the league distributes content.