Shocking many, Dwyane Wade left Jordan Brand to sign with the Chinese sportswear company Li-Ning in 2012. And while it took five years, Wade may have started a trend because Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum will reportedly leave Nike to sign with Li-Ning.
According to Blazers beat reporter Casey Holdahl, McCollum will be signing with Li-Ning in the very near future. McCollum even wore Li-Nings in a preseason game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.
. @CJMcCollum would join @thekidet as Li Ning athletes on the @trailblazers
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) October 4, 2017
As Holdhal notes, McCollum’s teammate Evan Turner is a Li-Ning athlete and he may have influenced the Trail Blazers star guard’s decision. However nothing is final as of now and McCollum did wear Nikes in the team’s open scrimmage on Sunday.
Crossover. Spin. Fade. Swish.
Same as it ever was. pic.twitter.com/rHF9V6ZS4D
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) October 1, 2017
Whether or not McCollum actually signs with Li-Ning remains to be seen. But overall, it does sound like McCollum is leaning towards leaving Nike for the Chinese brand.
