Donovan Mitchell Adidas deal secures remarkable 10th shoe
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell has signed a new multiyear extension with Adidas, a Donovan Mitchell Adidas deal that carries his signature shoe line through its 10th model, ESPN reported Thursday, Oct. 1.
The extension makes Mitchell the seventh active NBA player to reach 10 signature shoes with the same brand, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
What the Donovan Mitchell Adidas deal includes
The agreement reaches beyond basketball. According to ESPN, Adidas will steer additional resources to Greenwich Country Day, Mitchell’s former high school in Connecticut, to expand educational access for students from underserved communities.
Financial terms of the Donovan Mitchell Adidas deal were not disclosed.
Mitchell has been with Adidas since entering the league in 2017, and his first signature shoe, the D.O.N. Issue #1, launched in 2019. The current model, the D.O.N. Issue #8, debuted in May, according to Sneaker News.
Where Mitchell fits in Adidas basketball
The line’s name, D.O.N., stands for “Determination Over Negativity,” a motto Mitchell has carried since his early days with the Utah Jazz.
Mitchell is one of Adidas’ longest-tenured signature athletes in the NBA. Damian Lillard signed a lifetime extension with the brand in December 2024 after releasing nine signature shoes, according to Sports Illustrated.
Cleveland also has a second Adidas signature star in the backcourt. James Harden, whose Harden Vol. line runs with the brand, re-signed with the Cavaliers on a three-year, $97 million deal this offseason, according to Yahoo Sports.
Why Adidas is doubling down
Reaching 10 signature shoes is rare, and the Donovan Mitchell Adidas deal reflects both commercial success and a brand’s long-term commitment to one athlete.
Mitchell’s production backs up the investment. He averaged 27.9 points, 5.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 70 games last season, earning his seventh straight All-Star selection and a spot on the All-NBA Second Team, according to BasketNews.
He also led Cleveland to the Eastern Conference Finals, where the Cavaliers were swept by the New York Knicks.
A long-term commitment on and off the court
The new Donovan Mitchell Adidas deal follows his long-term commitment to Cleveland. He signed a four-year, $273 million max extension with the Cavaliers in July, according to Yahoo Sports. Total Apex Sports broke down what that extension means for Cleveland this summer.
The 2026-27 season will be Mitchell’s 10th in the NBA and his fifth with the Cavaliers.
What’s next
Mitchell and the Cavaliers open training camp looking to get past the conference finals after a disappointing end to last season. His signature line will keep evolving under Adidas as the brand builds its basketball roster around established stars.
Reporting from ESPN, Yahoo Sports and BasketNews contributed to this story.