Dwyane Wade is officially switching shoe brands. Wade, who has been with Jordan Brand since 2010, is going to start endorsing Beijing-based footwear and apparel company Li-Ning.
According to a source, Wade will be leaving Jordan Brand and joining up with Li-Ning, which is the number-two brand in China after Nike.
Metta World Peace, Baron Davis, Shaquille O'Neal, Evan Turner, and Brian Scalabrine also endorse Li-Ning. They'll be taking on LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant, who are all under the Nike banner.
You read that right. Someone signed Brian Scalabrine to endorse their basketball shoes.
Wade's contract with Michael Jordan's company expired today, and the Heat star confirmed to ESPN that he's moving on. "I did mutually part ways with the Jordan and Converse umbrella," he said. "We had a great nine years, but we did mutually part ways."
Li-Ning, which has U.S. offices in Chicago and Portland, hopes Wade can lead it in the charge to unseat Nike as the number-one sports apparel company in China. Peak Sport Products and Anta Sports Products have been nipping at Li-Ning's heels as well.
According to WantChinaTimes.com, between January and June of this year, Li-Ning's net profits dropped 84.9 percent to $6.95 million.
BUT THEY HAVE BRIAN SCALABRINE!!
Li-Ning is also the official shoe and apparel for the Argentina national basketball team, Spain's national basketball team, and Sigal Prishtina, a basketball team in Kosovo.
Tanzanian NBAer Hasheem Thabeet also endorses Li-Ning.
When hearing this news, Michael Jordan probably said, "Really?" And then he remembered he owns the Bobcats and was all, "Ai'ght."
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