June 2, 2026 is a date that basketball and the sneaker world will remember for a long time. Stephen Curry has signed a ten-year contract with Li-Ning, ending his "sneaker free agency" that began after parting ways with Under Armour in November 2025.
"The future of Curry Brand is with Li-Ning" — these were Curry's words in the official announcement. "I knew that Li-Ning could be the right partner that can deliver on the innovation and design that I want Curry Brand to stand for."
How the deal was born: the story of Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade
Curry's decision did not come overnight — and it has a beautiful story. A decisive factor in the final choice was the comfort in testing the shoes of two Li-Ning signature athletes: Jimmy Butler, his teammate at the Golden State Warriors, and Dwyane Wade — Flash, the Miami legend and founder of the Way of Wade brand with Li-Ning.
"Throughout my sneaker free agency, I was impressed by the quality, comfort and performance of Li-Ning's shoes" — Curry stated in his announcement. The fact that two of the players he knows best — his locker room teammate and a basketball legend — wore Li-Ning with satisfaction made the difference.
For TripleBasket this is a story we already knew — Jimmy Butler 4 and Way of Wade have been in the catalog for years. And now there will also be the Curry Brand.
What the Curry Brand Li-Ning contract includes
The ten-year deal includes basketball products, athleisure lifestyle clothing, a complete golf line and — a revolutionary element — the possibility for Curry to sign male and female athletes under his Curry Brand. Li-Ning plans to open Curry Brand stores in the United States and China.
Curry is a plus-handicap golfer and winner of the 2023 American Century Championship — one of the most important celebrity golf tournaments in the world. China is a huge golf market, and this partnership opens doors that go far beyond basketball.
In summary: it’s not just a basketball shoe. It’s a complete brand — basketball, golf, lifestyle, female athletics. The Curry Brand with Li-Ning is something never seen before in the NBA sneaker world.
Why Li-Ning and not Nike, Jordan or Adidas?
Curry’s move highlights a broader shift in the basketball apparel market, where Chinese brands are becoming increasingly influential players in a space once dominated by Western brands. Chinese brands like Li-Ning, Anta, and Rigorer are no longer niche alternatives — they are aggressively pursuing the most recognizable NBA players.
Kyrie Irving with Anta, Dwyane Wade with Li-Ning, Austin Reaves with Rigorer. And now Steph Curry with Li-Ning. Nike has seen revenues in its Greater China region drop by 20% over the last four fiscal years — and this has benefited Chinese brands.
Li-Ning has built its credibility in basketball patiently — and now the best shooter in NBA history carries its brand on the world’s biggest platform.
When will the Curry Brand Li-Ning shoes be released?
The question everyone is asking. At the time of the announcement, no specific details were given about the release date, models, or prices of the Curry Brand Li-Ning shoes. The deal includes basketball products that will be developed as part of the ten-year partnership — which suggests that the first models could arrive for the 2026-27 NBA season, in the fall.
Want to be among the first to know? Write to us on WhatsApp — we’ll notify you as soon as the Curry Brand Li-Ning shoes are available on TripleBasket.
In the meantime: Li-Ning is already on TripleBasket
You don’t have to wait for the Curry shoes to discover why Chef Curry chose Li-Ning. The very shoes that convinced him — those of Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade — are already available on TripleBasket:
→ Li-Ning Jimmy Butler 4 — Curry’s teammate’s shoe
→ Li-Ning Way of Wade — the line that convinced Curry
→ The entire Li-Ning collection on TripleBasket
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