• March 7, 2012

Sports equipment giant Spalding has brought in Sacramento Kings’ rookie Jimmer Fredette, Miami Heat guard Mario Chalmers and Washington Wizards’ rookie Chris Singleton as marketing and promotional spokesmen. In addition to supporting Spalding’s existing basketball and equipment product line, the three athletes will also support the launch of a new licensed shoe and lifestyle apparel line, said the company in a release.

The three athletes, who join Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce as Spalding pitchmen, will appear in digital and print advertising as well as in-store signage. They will also wear the new Spalding signature shoe during games, per the company.

The company says a new basketball shoe, which is being made under a licensing agreement by Mercury International, will appear on shelves and online this Spring. The shoes will be a retail stores, including select Finish Line stores, finishline.com, dickssportinggoods.com, and West-coast based Shiekh.

Spalding says the launch campaign will be supported by a large grassroots and viral awareness program, combined with traditional point-of-purchase and media buys.