Houston Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin has decided to sign an endorsement deal with sportswear and apparel giant Adidas following the end of his contract with Nike, a source close to situation reported on Thursday.

Lin, who is one of the most popular players in the NBA, joined fellow Rockets center Dwight Howard, Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, Washington Wizards playmaker John Wall and Portland Trail Blazers spitfire Damian Lillard on the list of high-profile endorsers for the German-based brand.

Though the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Lin will play a significant role in the Adidas marketing initiatives along with the development of the brand's basketball footwear and apparel.

The 25-year-old Lin also expressed his excitement to be the newest member of the Adidas family, as he helps the brand develop more cutting-edge shoes for better performance and comfort.  

"They've changed the game with new technology and style, and I can't wait to be a part of it," Lin said in a press release.

Lin's popularity soared to an all-time high during his tenure with the New York Knicks after he came out of nowhere to power the team to a string of sensational victories and revive their diminishing playoff hopes without stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire during the 2011-2012 season. Thus, Linsanity was born at Madison Square Garden.

In his second season with the Rockets, Lin averaged 14.1 points, 4.2 assists and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 47 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc.    

Adidas Looks To End Nike Dominance

Lin's arrival as the newest endorser of the Adidas brand will help the brand put pressure on Nike as the leading footwear and apparel maker in China.

"Adidas as of July had 11 percent of China's sportswear market, trailing Nike's 12 percent, according to data from Euromonitor International," reported the Houston Chronicle.

However, it would be a tall order for Adidas to topple Nike as the world's biggest sneaker manufacturer because of the latter's global influence and dominance in the United States basketball shoe market.

"Nike dominates the basketball shoe market globally with Adidas coming as a distant second. In the U.S., Nike possesses more than 90 percent of revenue between its namesake and Jordan brands while Adidas has 5 percent, according to researcher SportsOneSource," the site added.