NBA Rumors: Chinese sneakers brand Li-Ning targeting Kyrie Irving as new ambassador
Despite not having a great season, Kyrie Irving is still one of the most popular NBA players. The Dallas Mavericks guard is reportedly a target for Li-Ning, a Chinese sneakers company.
The former NBA champion had his deal with Nike terminated due to the controversy that surrounded him. Earlier in the season, Irving promoted an anti-Semitic film, which has sparked outrage from fans.
Irving is no longer affiliated with Nike, but his next big opportunity may be around the corner. While Li-Ning is nowhere near as popular as the Oregon-based company, it has a lot of potential to take a significant portion of the US market share.
Kyrie Irving lost his Nike deal, but may soon sign a deal with Li-Ning
Li-Ning was founded in 1989 and entered the NBA in 2006. At the time, the Chinese brand signed Shaquille O'Neal, a Miami Heat star, to a four-year contract worth $1.25 million.
Shaq came off his first championship with the Heat and was one of the most popular players at the time. This partnership has helped the Chinese company pave a successful path in the United States.
O'Neal's former teammate Dwyane Wade is also affiliated with the footwear brand. The Heat legend signed a lifetime contract with the company back in 2018 and has had several signature sneakers.
Kyrie Irving is having another disappointing season in his career. While his stats are decent, the Dallas Mavericks have struggled to win games and may not even advance to the playoffs.
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Despite his failure to win games, Irving is still very popular and is one of the best guards in the league. If Li-Ning signs him to a contract, the Mavericks star will become the most recognizable signature athlete of the brand.
Li-Ning is currently endorsed by several high-profile NBA players, including Jimmy Butler, Fred VanVleet and CJ McCollum. However, signing another top-tier player to a contract would drastically benefit the company and help it expand its market share.
In 2021, the Chinese footwear company's annual sales reached $3.55 billion. To put this into perspective, Nike had a revenue of $44.5 billion in the same period.
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Kyrie Irving's deal with Nike was reportedly worth around $11 million per year. He signed with the footwear giant in 2011 and has had several signature shoes with the brand.
However, his relationship with Nike is likely done for good. Due to this, it won't be surprising if Irving becomes a Li-Ning brand ambassador very soon.