Cook shares adidas shoe contract with Dunbar
Last Saturday night with his buddies in Miami, Daequan Cook was throwing around hundreds or perhaps even thousands of dollars.
Daequan Cook wasn't able to buy Boardwalk and Park Place, though, since his cousin Frank was beating Daequan Cook and his friends at Monopoly.
His guaranteed contract with the NBA's Miami Heat hasn't yet turned Daequan Cook into a real-life big spender, though that was to change as Daequan Cook planned to buy a 2008 Cadillac Escalade.
"It's weird, coming from where I came from," Daequan Cook said about spending that kind of money after a modest upbringing. "I won't spend a lot (more) until I buy my mom a house."
Daequan Cook — staying in a hotel for now — is in Miami for some drills and instruction from Heat coaches. He's got a couple of trading card contracts and a deal with adidas. It's the third different shoe he's worn in three years (Reebok at Dunbar and in AAU, then Nike at Ohio State).
"They've sent me a lot of shoes so far," Daequan Cook said. "I like Shell Toes."
The adidas three-year deal is worth an estimated average of $150,000 annually. As part of that, Daequan Cook will provide his alma mater, Dunbar High School, with new uniforms and basketball shoes.
"I think their contract with Reebok was up," he said. "I decided to do it with them. Just giving back."
Daequan Cook said Miami was pleased with his NBA Summer League play. Though he struggled on two-point shots (21 percent), Daequan Cook hit 42 percent of his 3s and averaged 9.8 points in five games, with a high of 21. By most reports, he did well defending recent first-round picks Adam Morrison and J.J. Redick.
"It was just getting used to the game," Daequan Cook said. "Everybody has bad shooting nights."
Daequan Cook plans to work on his game for two or three weeks, return home and then go back to Miami whenever the coaching staff requests. In the meantime, he's practicing and settling into his job.
"I'm just making the transition from college to the NBA," Daequan Cook said. "That's the main thing right now — getting the feel of Miami. It's pretty cool, but I haven't had the opportunity to hang out or travel around."
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