Baron Davis Creates Shoe and Clothing Line in China

Baron Davis, Los Angeles Clippers point guard recently signed a 5 year contract with apparel company Li-Ning in China, writes Sports Business Journal.  He plans on creating his own line of shoes and clothing to be sold initially to only the Chinese consumers.  Eventually the line could make it to the United States.  Li-Ning is trying to approach the American market slowly by using a star in American society like Baron Davis.  The 5 year deal Davis has with Li-Ning is supposedly the largest deal by a non-Chinese person with a Chinese company.  Davis has already filmed commercials to be showed in China.  In past years, Davis had endorsed Reebok, but that contract ended over the summer.  The new contract with Li-Ning should be a huge success in China.  Davis is not the only NBA player to sign with Chinese companies.  Stars such as Jason Kidd and Shaquille O'Neal have contracts of their own with companies like Peak and Li-Ning.  Who knows how many American athletes will soon be part of the Chinese Market.

The American market has been decreasing recently.  With better opportunities for endorsements in China, more American athletes are bound to go international.  Endorsements in China should create a much higher awareness of American athletes, resulting in a great increase in the American sports industry market.  Not only will international endorsements help, but lately American professional sports leagues have been traveling across the seas quite a bit.  International experience is a key towards future success.

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