NBA: Basketball Legend.

Chapter 113: Chapter 113 – The Sneaker Endorsement Deal Is Finalized. Chen Yan’s Choice Is...

Chapter 113 – The Sneaker Endorsement Deal Is Finalized. Chen Yan’s Choice Is...

Phoenix – Inside Chen Yan’s apartment.

Bill Duffy, his agent, sat across the table, a thick stack of papers in hand. He handed over the final summaries of sneaker endorsement offers, the numbers and clauses neatly highlighted.

”Here’s everything. All the major brands upped their bids,” Bill said, watching Chen flip through the pages.

Adidas’s latest offer was $48 million over six years—an increase of $300K compared to the last bid. More importantly, they upgraded it from a basic cash deal to a signature shoe contract. A senior Adidas rep even claimed it was their most sincere proposal yet, stressing that launching a signature shoe for Chen was their highest form of respect.

But Chen Yan wasn’t buying it.

Their so-called ”sincerity” didn’t even match Nike’s initial offer. And when compared to what the Chinese brands were throwing down? Adidas didn’t stand a chance.

Chen remembered Adidas’s long history of questionable decisions: missing out on Jordan, giving up on Kobe, and losing LeBron to Nike over a measly $30 million. In 2007, they even ditched star-driven marketing altogether, going full ”No Brothers, No Basketball” mode and pushing team shoes over signature lines. Meanwhile, Nike built empires off single-player stars like McGrady.

Adidas had fumbled too many times—and now they were trying to save face.

Not with him.

Chen leaned back in his chair, tossing the Adidas papers aside. ”They’re off the table,” he said flatly.

Maybe one day, when people talk about Adidas and their long list of blown opportunities, they’ll add another name: Chen Yan.

---

Nike, on the other hand, came back harder.

At first, they thought Chen’s cold shoulder was just a tactic to hike the price. But once they caught wind that Bill was actively negotiating with Chinese brands, alarm bells went off.

And after Chen dropped a 50-point triple-double with steals? Yeah, Nike panicked.

They came back with a monster offer: 7 years, $95 million.

It was the richest rookie shoe deal in Nike’s history—more than what they offered LeBron.

This wasn’t the first time Nike tried to clean up after themselves. Back when Yao Ming entered the league, they had the nerve to offer him a four-year deal worth just $1.6 million. Total disrespect. Yao turned them down immediately.

Only when Nike realized Reebok was about to lock him in with a 7-year, $50 million deal did they finally wake up, throwing a last-minute $120 million yuan deal on the table.

Still, Yao said no. Because in China, your word matters more than any number on a contract.

Chen Yan wasn’t surprised by Nike’s last-ditch effort. But just like Yao, he didn’t flinch.

He turned it down, flat-out.

Sure, Nike was offering big money now—but where was that respect earlier?

Besides, what the domestic brands were offering? That was next level.

---

The second word got out that Chen was open to endorsing a Chinese brand, the market went berserk.

Li-Ning, Anta, Peak—they all jumped into an all-out bidding war. Bayonets were drawn. Everyone knew that if there was one guy who could crack both the NBA and Chinese market wide open, it was Chen Yan.

Peak led with a bold move: a 6-year deal worth $55 million—plus 10% profit sharing.

To put it in perspective, Peak’s biggest name before this was Shane Battier, and his annual deal only hit $2 million. This was Peak putting all their chips on the table.

Anta, freshly listed and flush with capital, came harder:

A 10-year, $105 million deal.

Plus—an independent brand for Chen.

It was the only 9-figure deal on the board.

But then Li-Ning showed up and said: ”Hold my beer.”

7 years, $63 million.

A custom, independent Chen Yan brand.

6% of total sales.

And the kicker—2.75% ownership in the company.

Not profit sharing—sales share. That meant every single pair of shoes sold, Chen Yan would take 6% off the top, no matter the cost. And with Li-Ning’s market value expected to blow past 200 billion HKD? That 2.75% in equity? That’s generational wealth.

”Chen,” Bill said, watching him flip to the last page. ”So... who are we going with?”

Chen looked up, a small smirk tugging at his lips. ”C’mon, Bill. You already know.”

At the same time, both of them spoke in unison.

”Li-Ning.”

Because shares are king. And Li-Ning had the vision, the cash, and the balls to make a bet this big.

Peak and Anta came heavy—but Li-Ning came with legacy-level power plays.

In another life, they offered Wade shares too, once he was already a certified veteran. But signing Chen? That took real guts. The kid was still on the rise, and Li-Ning was betting big.

Chen Yan had his own leverage. A hometown star on the rise, bursting with potential and hype—he was the future.

As Li Ning’s slogan goes: Anything is possible.

Bill Duffy, his agent, was all business. Sharp, steady, and thorough. He wasn’t just in it for the paycheck—he genuinely cared about his client’s long-term health.

”Li Ning seems sincere,” Bill said, folding his arms. ”But I’m still concerned about the quality of their shoes.”

Chen Yan nodded. ”Let’s hear them out first. I want to see what kind of vision they have for the sneaker line.”

”Fair enough,” Bill replied. ”I’ll set up the meeting.”

To Chen Yan, this wasn’t about quality control—the system guaranteed his personal gear would be top-tier. What he cared about was the design direction and branding of his signature line.

---

The very next afternoon, Chen Yan’s doorbell rang.

Opening the door, he found Bill Duffy standing beside a well-dressed, professional-looking squad.

Li Ning didn’t just send a rep this time—they sent a whole team. Ten people deep. Jet-lagged but energized. They’d flown in immediately after hearing Chen Yan was open to signing. No hotel check-in, no rest. Straight to his apartment.

They were here to lock him in.

After a few polite greetings, the team leader got down to business, laying out Li Ning’s full vision for Chen Yan’s personal brand.

Though tired from the long flight, the team lead was sharp and focused. He started by breaking down the positioning of the sneaker line.

”The plan is to make your signature shoes a reflection of your game and lifestyle,” he explained. ”A true crossover between on-court performance and off-court style. Something you can hoop in, hit the streets in, or even rock as a fashion piece.”

”Like how Jordan Brand did it,” Chen Yan said, intrigued.

”Exactly. We want your line to have that same impact.”

That pitch hit home. Chen Yan had always admired the versatility and cultural reach of the Jordan line. This was the kind of thinking he liked.

Then came the tech talk.

Li Ning would use their top-tier Boost+ cushioning and a carbon fiber midsole—state-of-the-art in their catalog. Chen Yan didn’t really need it himself (the system had him covered), but the fans? They deserved quality too. He wasn’t going to let his name be slapped on trash-tier kicks.

Then came the real surprise.

Li Ning was forming a specialized team around his brand. They even secured Eric Miller—one of the best in the business—as lead designer for his debut sneaker. Every aspect of the shoe, from the silhouette to the logo, would be done with Chen Yan’s input and approval.

He could feel the respect. The energy was real.

Of course, no deal is ever that clean. There were still performance-based clauses in the contract. Hidden, but not sneaky—just smart business.

To secure the full endorsement package, Chen Yan would need to:

Win Rookie of the Year

Average 20+ points per game

Get selected as an All-Star

Play at least 75 games (85% attendance)

Chen Yan read those lines and cracked a smile.

”That’s it?” he said. ”Too easy.”

The meeting wrapped up with both sides satisfied.

Bill Duffy, who’d been silently analyzing everything, nodded in approval. ”Honestly, Chinese brands are way more professional than I expected. They’re not playing around.”

Chen Yan wasn’t the type to hesitate once he’d made up his mind. He liked what he saw. He liked what he heard. He liked the ambition.

So, right there in his living room, with his agent and lawyer present, he signed with Li Ning.

No flashy press conference. No cameras or lights. The regular season grind was still in full swing—there was no time for that. Li Ning understood.

Before they left, Chen Yan shook hands with the team lead, and they took a few photos to mark the moment. It was official.

He was now a Li Ning athlete.

---

First order of business after signing?

Chen Yan went straight to his closet and cleaned house.

Nike? Out.

Adidas? Gone.

Reebok? Tossed.

Even slippers didn’t get a pass. If he so much as stepped outside in an Adidas T-shirt or wore old-brand kicks to grab breakfast, it would be a breach of contract. He wasn’t taking any chances.

”From now on,” Chen Yan said, ”if I’m in public, I’m rocking a full Li Ning fit. Head to toe.”

He meant it.

He wasn’t just endorsing a brand anymore—he was part of it. A shareholder. A walking symbol.

This wasn’t just a contract.

It was the start of an empire.

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