Hampton, 2020 NBA draft prospect, signs with Li-Ning

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

RJ Hampton previously signed with the New Zealand Breakers instead of playing college basketball. He now has signed a shoe contract.

The 18-year-old has now signed a five-year endorsement deal with Li-Ning. They are a Chinese company that makes athletic shoes and sporting goods.

Basketball (Photo by Pixabay.com)

“They’re just a great company,” Hampton said. “They’ve put a lot of work in with me, and they’re really been behind me these last couple of months, ever since I made my decision [to play in the NBL}.”

He is expected to be a top pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Depending on where he is selected, Hampton can receive additional money through this deal.

According to ESPN’s Nick DePaula, if Hampton is selected in the Top 10 of the 2020 NBA Draft, he’ll have the richest deal a rookie player has received from Li-Ning.

Li-Ning is already in the NBA. Previously, before his retirement in April, Dwyane Wade was a member of their endorsed athletes.

Wade previously left Jordan Brand for Li-Ning. In 2018, he signed a lifetime deal with the company.

Shaquille O’Neal — Wade’s former teammate with the Miami Heat — also signed with the company in 2006.

Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum is also part of their company’s endorsed athletes. McCollum’s former teammate Evan Turner — who was traded by the Trail Blazers to the Atlanta Hawks in the off-season — is also with Li-Ning.

Former Detroit Pistons player José Calderón is with Li-Ning. In addition, Glen Robinson III — who signed with the Golden State Warriors in the off-season — is also with the company.

Former athletes also include Baron Davis and Damon Jones. They also endorse Cleanthony Early, who previously played in the NBA.

“I really like their shoes,” Hampton said. “[With] CJ and Dwyane Wade, it’s going to be great.

Wade inks lifetime with Chinese apparel company

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.

Dwyane Wade attempts a jump shot over Philadelphia 76ers’ T.J. McConnell (Getty Images)

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.