According to a story in Monday's Globe and Mail, a Boston arbitrator has ruled Carter must pay Puma $13.5 million US for breach of an endorsement contract.
Carter was further ordered to pay Puma's legal costs and prohibited from wearing the footwear or apparel of any of Puma's competitors for three years.
The squabble between Carter and Puma stems from a contract the Raptor signed with the shoe company after he was selected in the first round of the 1998 NBA draft.
A sombre Vince Carter won't be wearing Nikes or Adidas anytime soon. (CP/Photo)
The multi-million dollar deal was scheduled to stretch over a decade, but Carter soon became disenchanted with Puma.
He said the shoes didn't fit him right, then questioned Puma's commitment to the contract, arguing the company had failed to make him a signature shoe.
Though Puma made two Carter shoes, The Vinsanity and the VI, the company did not produce any footwear bearing Carter's full name. So last season Carter stopped wearing Pumas.
Arguing Carter was simply trying to free himself of his contractual obligations and use his newfound notoriety to negotiate himself a more lucrative deal, Puma took Carter to arbitration.
Carter, his agent and his mother all declined comment, but in a media release, Puma's chief executive officer, Jochen Zeitz, said: "The company is extremely pleased with the outcome and feels completely vindicated."
Puma said it was eager to meet with Carter, who has no choice but to wear Pumas while playing with the U.S. Dream Team in Sydney, and discuss the ruling.
