Did you know that Dwyane Wade had a deal with Converse during the early years of his career? The 3x NBA champ made a stir when he led the Marquette men’s basketball team to the NCAA Tournament Final Four. Back in 2003, as he got drafted as the fifth pick into the league, he signed a six-year deal with Converse. Following this, the former NBA player changed his sneaker home and landed a lifetime deal with Li Ning. Looking back, he fondly recalled one of his classic releases and how it fulfilled one of his dreams.

While Carmelo Anthony, who was drafted the same year, secured a shoe deal worth $3.5 million per year, LeBron James landed a nearly $87 million contract with Nike. On the other hand, Wade signed a six-year deal with Converse valued at $2.4 million. His signature shoe, the Wade 1, which was designed by Duane Laurence, became a major hit, selling over 1 million pairs worldwide. The success of the shoes came after his first NBA championship with the Miami Heat. But after six years, the 3x NBA champ changed his home again, and to Jordan Brand, which amassed a revenue of nearly $7 billion in 2024 as per Sportico.

Nearly 13 years later in the latest episode of The Time-out, Wade fondly recounted the time when the brand dropped his signature shoe. “I remember getting my first signature shoe with Jordan and as hoopers, our goal is to one day be able to have our own shoe and see kids rocking it and have our family rocking it. So when I got a chance to start my own brand, I wanted to eventually have athletes that could have that same experience and so DLO being the first athlete that I sign out of so many that came before him. To be the first one to get his own signature shoe with my logo attached to it right there, it’s pretty cool man. I’m really I’m really excited about this,” Wade said. The Chinese brand is all set to launch D’Angelo Russell’s first signature shoe’s DLO 1 in this month. 

Well, Wade’s connection with the brand was brief. After winning a championship with the Heat in 2012, he left Jordan Brand to sign a deal with Chinese brand Li Ning. When asked about the reason, Wade explained that he had the chance to make a deal with Jordan Brand, but he wanted a shoe deal that focused more on him. And that’s where Li Ning came. 

“And going into the summer I was really looking for the deal I felt as best for me, and when this deal came I think everyone knew it. So I didn’t personally talk to MJ about it, but Nike and all the Jordan guys that I have a relationship with they kinda knew the direction I was goin’ in,” he told Complex.

He signed an 8-year deal with Li Ning valued at $10 million, and that connection has extended till now. Wade’s legacy and family have always been his focus. And not so surprisingly, the company brought Wade’s son Zaire into the family too. Just recently, the 13x NBA All-Star launched a new release.

Dwyane Wade dropped the Li-Ning Way of Wade 11

The 3x NBA champ recently teamed up with global digital marketplace KICKS CREW to launch the latest Li-Ning Way of Wade 11 in 2024. This model is now among the top five performance basketball shoes. In association with the brand, he started the signature Way of Wade series back in 2012.

The Li-Ning Way of Wade 11 also features a different version of the logo adorned on it. This shoe has several details that pay homage to the 3x NBA champ’s career. The debut “305” colorway is a tribute to Wade’s legacy with the Miami Heat.

And this year back in March, the shoes also adopted a new colorway, again in partnership with KICKS CREW. The new release is Way of Wade 11 “Sunrise”. It’s the eye-catching design details that have the enthusiasts gushing over it. 

It has a black base with a red sole. The design is enhanced with orange and pink gradient accents that look like sunrise, embellished across the shoes. It indeed pays homage to the Heat’s theme as well as the sunrise that also symbolizes the start of a new day. Creative and yet in line with Wade’s mind.