"When you're wearing cheap shoes, and you don't wear Nike, it's going to happen. They gave him all that money to wear those cheap Filas," Barkley, the NBA star-turned-basketball analyst, said during TNT broadcast Dec. 5 when Hill was sidelined then for a fourth consecutive game after a short-lived comeback from offseason ankle surgery.
Hill's agent replied:
Babby takes exception to Barkley's comment: "Grant's been wearing Filas since he's been a rookie in the league and he first broke his ankle in the sixth season. That's why it is pretty unfair and dangerous to make that connection."
Barkley, it should be noted, wore Nike shoes during his 16-year NBA career, and he remains a paid endorser to this day.
"I wouldn't take too much stock in Barkley's offhand comment," said Howe Burch, senior vice president of sports marketing for Fila USA, who pointed out that Hill's shoes are custom made.
Burch said Barkley apparently isn't aware of the accomplishments of those players who have worn the brand this year.
"We've had Jennifer Capriati win two Grand Slams in our shoes; Barry Bonds hit 73 home runs in our shoes; Sammy Sosa hit 60 (home runs) for a third straight year, and Margaret Okayo win the women's division of the New York Marathon in our shoes."
On top of that Hill during 2018
re-sign with Fila to revive retro sneaker line. I don't think he would do it if there was any bad blood between them. I mean he doesn't need the money etc.