Stephen Curry has accomplished just about everything there is to accomplish on the basketball court. Four championships, two MVP awards, the all-time NBA three-point record and one of the greatest players in league history.
Now, the Warriors superstar is making headlines off the court.
Curry agreed to a 10-year partnership with Chinese sportswear giant Li-Ning, reportedly worth more than $400 million, a deal that immediately caught the attention of his longtime teammate Draymond Green.
“Well, number one, Li-Ning is one of the fastest-growing footwear brands in the world. Number two, he has the opportunity to grow the Curry brand globally, in the Chinese market, and in his life after his basketball career,” Green said on The Draymond Green Show. “This deal ticks all those boxes and I’m very happy for him. I think it’s groundbreaking.”
The agreement comes after Curry and Under Armor ended a partnership that had spanned 2013. During that time, Curry went from a rising star to one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet.
What impressed Green most was not just the size of the contract, but also the timing of it happening.
“Signing a sneaker contract worth over $400 million at the age of 38 is unheard of,” Green continued. “It just lets you know the weight of the name Stephen Curry, that Stephen Curry exists, who he is, what he is, what he represents, and that they were willing to sign this 10-year contract.”
The length of this partnership is particularly notable considering Curry is believed to be nearing the end of his NBA career.
Green acknowledged that reality while emphasizing how rare deals of this magnitude are.
“Awesome, absolutely crazy. So, shout out to 30. Unbelievable. Another one,” Green said. “It’s unbelievable, man. Congratulations, man. Great job.”
Read more: Victor Wembanyama doesn’t believe in finals hype
