Los Angeles Clippers’ Baron Davis is signing with China.
No, not as a player in a Chinese basketball team, but as an endorsee of Li-Ning, China shoe and apparel company. According to SportsBusiness Journal, he endorsement deal is signed for five years period that will put Baron Davis, previously a Reebok endorser, endorsing a signature line that will only – initially – be sold in China.
Baron Davis is not alone. Li-Ning also has a deal with Shaq and a marketing deal with the NBA.
Is Li-Ning the pioneer in signing NBA players for endorsement? No – J Kidd signed a deal with Peak, another Chinese sportswear company in August, after previously endorsed Nike for years.
Is this a trend? In my opinion – yes. The US economic downturn affect sportswear and other sports-related companies to a certain extent, and this, in turn, will bring more NBA players to a greener grass – most likely – China.
Hmm – perhaps the NBA League shouldn’t expand to Europe… China might be the better option due to its strong basketball fan base and interests on everything NBA.
We’ll see.
1 Reviews
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~ Jun 7, 2009
Baron Davis is a great basketball player. It was fun watching him take the Warriors to the playoffs. It looks like a lot of other countries will start giving endorsements to American professional athletes. Go Baron ! We Believe !