Deron Williams didn't get a lot of attention in Utah, but since he's been traded East (and shown up on billboards as the face of the Brooklyn Nets), things have changed. More evidence of that Monday when Sports Pro, a London based sports business magazine, ranked him the world’s "48th most marketable athlete."
The magazine, which also featured the Nets globalization dreams in last month's issue, wrote that if he hadn't been traded, "he would not have made this list". The rationale is simple: "Backed by new Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov’s billions and franchise chief executive Brett Yormark’s unrivaled ability to sell to anyone, anywhere, Williams could soon find himself as the franchise player of the only truly global NBA team".
Williams is listed between Yuvraj Singh, Indian cricketeer, and Mesut Özil, German footballer. Sports Pro thinks D-Will could move up in the ranks as well. "We want to offer our players a combination of winning and being marketable," said Christophe Charlier, chairman of the Nets board.
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The world’s 48th most marketable athlete - Deron Williams - Tom Love - Sports Pro Magazine