NBA Announces Multi-Year Partnership with MISSION as the “Official Athletecare™” of the League

Court Grip and Power GripProducts, Co-Developed by Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony, to Debut in Games on Christmas Day

NEW YORK--()--MISSION Athletecare™, the first and only line of Athlete-Engineered® products, is pleased to announce a multi-year merchandising partnership with the NBA becoming the “Official Athletecare” of the League. The first NBA branded products Court Grip and Power Grip will debut when the NBA tips off the 2011-12 season on Christmas Day.

Developed in conjunction with Miami Heat All-Star Dwyane Wade, Court Grip features a patent-pending technology that helps combat court slippage and was tested extensively by Wade as well as the NBA Trainers Association (NBATA) where it was unanimously approved.

“My game is all about change of direction, speed and quickness and I am constantly looking for ways to get added traction,” said Wade. “I wanted to develop a product that truly helps players at all levels improve their performance. Court Grip helps me focus on my game and make my moves confidently without worrying about court conditions.”

Casey Smith, head athletic trainer for the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks and Chairman of the NBATA said, “Maintaining traction on courts is an issue for players and Court Grip addresses the problem better than anything we've ever used. We’re pleased to have helped bring this game-changing product to market.”

Power Grip features a unique and proprietary formula designed as a liquid-chalk technology, that instantly dries hands to provide a more secure and confident grip on the basketball. True to the MISSION athlete-engineered™ process, Power Grip was jointly developed and tested with New York Knicks All-Star Carmelo Anthony who uses it as a “go-to” product to keep his hands dry and improve his grip on the ball.

“We’re very excited to launch our new partnership with the NBA,” said Josh Shaw, founder and president of MISSION Athletecare, “Starting with Court Grip and Power Grip, we will continue to lead the charge in developing game-changing innovative solutions that meet the unique needs of today’s athletes.”

Already considered one of the most successful sports accessory launches in sporting goods history, MISSION debuted Court Grip and Power Grip at the end of September exclusively at Foot Locker stores nationwide and online at Eastbay.com and will be available soon at Dick’s Sporting Goods, The Sports Authority, Hibbett Sports, Modell’s and at www.MISSIONathletecare.com. “We could not have asked for a better retail partner to launch both Court Grip and Power Grip. As the destination for the avid basketball player, and with the tremendous in-store and out-of-store multi-media marketing that Foot Locker and Eastbay have put behind this launch, the adoption of these game-changing products has come much faster than we anticipated.” said Mark French, President of Mission Basketball division.

Co-founded by some of the world’s elite athletes, including NBA superstars Wade, Anthony, Brandon Jennings, and Steve Nash, MISSION is focused on solving problems unique to athletes. The company has over two dozen product innovations that cover Muscle Care, Foot Care, Grip Enhancement, Anti-Chafe and Sunscreen – as well as some exciting new categories launching in 2012.

About MISSION:

MISSION is the first and only line of Athlete-Engineered™ products designed to improve performance and safety in competition. Led by a premier group of world-class athletes including Serena Williams, David Wright, Georges St-Pierre and Mia Hamm among others, the company is pioneering an entirely new category in the sports industry called Athletecare™.

MISSION and its elite athlete partners know that athletes have a unique set of needs – before, during and after their training or competition. To meet those dynamic needs, the MISSION Lab Team is spearheaded by world-renowned doctors, scientists and athletes – who collaboratively engineer the MISSION products to meet the highest demands of performance. From a sunscreen that is clinically proven to not sting your eyes to a proprietary Anti-Friction Cream that lasts up to five times longer than the competition, MISSION is focused on true product innovations that are unmatched in the marketplace – and give athletes the advantage they need.

Today, MISSION has over 25 high-performance product innovations in its portfolio and is sold in nearly 10,000 stores across the U.S. including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Foot Locker, Hibbett Sports, CVS/pharmacy and on www.missionathletecare.com.

The company also has a dual MISSION. While delivering world-class product innovations, MISSION also makes an impact off the field of play through its “Athletes On a Mission” program, which recognizes, rewards and inspires youth athletes that give back to their communities. MISSION is setting a new standard in “high-performance” on all levels.

Visit MISSION online at www.MISSIONathletecare.com, www.facebook.com/MISSIONathletecare and www.facebook.com/MISSIONbasketball

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50113929&lang=en

Contacts

MISSION,
Wendy Kula, 646-695-0863,
wendy@missionathletecare.com
or
NBA,
Amanda Thorn, 212-407-8477,
athorn@nba.com

Release Summary

MISSION Athletecare™ has announced a multi-year merchandising partnership with the NBA becoming the “Official Athletecare” of the League.

Contacts

MISSION,
Wendy Kula, 646-695-0863,
wendy@missionathletecare.com
or
NBA,
Amanda Thorn, 212-407-8477,
athorn@nba.com