By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
Dwyane Wade, who is on the downside of his career with the Miami Heat, has signed a lifetime deal with Li-Ning. The Chinese apparel company has been sponsoring him for the past several years.
Wade made the announcement while he was in Beijing on Wednesday. Li Ning, the company’s CEO, was also at the event.
The star NBA player has been working with Li-Ning since 2012. He previously had shoe deals with Converse and Jordan Brand in his NBA career.
Besides Wade’s role in the company’s basketball and lifestyle apparel, he will now have a larger role within the company. He will also help with their youth development camps and basketball clinics, according to the announcement, in China and across the world.
He began last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had signed a one-year deal with the team, before being traded to the Heat at the NBA trade deadline.
Right now, Wade has not decided if he will return for his 16th season. He is 36-years-old.
Li-Ning has many sports sponsorships, as they attempt to raise its profile around the world. The company previously had apparel deals with the Argentina national basketball team in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
They also sponsored Finland national basketball team at the 2015 EuroBasket and the Malaysia national basketball team at the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.
Presently, the company has sponsorship deals with football and basketball teams. They sponsor Tajikistan national football team in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
They also sponsor club teams Esteghlal F.C., Persepolis F.C., and Tractor Sazi F.C. in . They also sponsor C.F. Pachuca in Mexico.
The Capital Sports Report 