D’Angelo Russell is a sneaker free agent no longer after he was officially named the Way of Wade brand ambassador on Thursday.
Dwyane Wade’s sneaker line for Li-Ning needed a new face to carry the torch for the recently retired Miami Heat superstar, and the company found its man in the Golden State Warriors guard.
Russell had been rocking Wade’s signature footwear since the 2019-20 preseason, but it wasn’t until now that a deal was officially announced. The deal will see Russell wear the Way Of Wade 7 this season, but there is a distinct possibility that the All-Star guard will have his own signature shoe down the line.
Russell’s contract with Nike had ended this fall which allowed him to try out various sneaker brands before signing a deal with Li-Ning. He and Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum are among the brand’s most recognizable players in the league.
Wade announced Russell’s signing through his Twitter and Instagram accounts, and he seemed very pleased to sign his first signature athlete.