Jimmy Butler will sign with Li Ning

According to US broadcaster ESPN, in the coming weeks Jimmy Butler will sign with Li Ning, a Chinese sportswear company that already has a contract with former NBA star Dwayne Wade. The Miami Heat guard ended his relationship with Jordan in January, remaining a free agent for shoe sponsorship contracts. In the coming weeks, after the official announcement, details of the new partnership will also arrive, but it is very likely that Butler has married the Chinese brand's project to become, at 31, the main testimonial in advertising.

Jimmy Butler had had an important relationship with Air Jordan during his career. In 2014, at the age of 25 and in the middle of his sports career, when he was in Chicago Butler left adidas to sign with the Jumpman, inaugurating a partnership that lasted until 2020 and with many highlights, such as a 20 thousand dollars pair of Jordans. According to Hypebeast, butler's contract change would also have the influence of Wade, who has played in Miami throughout his career and has had a lifetime contract with Li Ning since 2018. The Chinese company has produced several signature shoes for Wade - including the inaugural Way of Wade - and currently also has contracts with Portland Trail Blazers' CJ McCollum and free agent Evan Turner. 

It hasn't been a year for Jimmy Butler to remember. In addition to the small average number of points per game (19.2: the second lowest in his career) Butler lost the NBA title in the final to the Lakers, and during his playoff retirement in the Orlando bubble, the Miami playmaker drew attention for several extra-sporting episodes. The most emphasized in the media was 'Big Face Coffee': Butler brought all the tools and material to his room to make home made coffee - he wasn't satisfied with what disneyland hotel staff needed - and started selling it to colleagues. According to many, the prices were too high.