The Beardman era is over. Baron Davis and Li-Ning have split up.
CounterKicks can confirm that Li-Ning initiated an early termination of Baron’s endorsement deal, which was originally signed in 2008 and not due to expire until later in 2013.
Our sources tell us Baron’s 5-year Li-Ning contract was paying him in the neighborhood of $1.5 million per year, which would total an approximate $7.5 million at full payout.
Months in the making, the split officially commenced last week on April 1. That date wasn’t random. We’re told that Baron received quarterly payment checks (Jan-Feb-Mar, etc.) from Li-Ning, with the last payment sent at the beginning of this month. If the $1.5 million per year estimate is accurate, it would mean Baron was receiving $375,000 per check.
Baron’s first game played after April 1 and also the Knicks’ first game this month came against the Pacers in Indianapolis on April 3. Baron, who has worn on court all this season his original Li-Ning BD Doom signature shoe from two years ago rather than current Li-Ning product, opted instead to wear a Nike shoe that game.
Specifically, he wore Kobe Bryant’s signature Zoom Kobe VI in a “Duke” nicknamed colorway. Baron has continued to wear the Nike Kobe shoe in all of his April Knicks games thus far, which includes Indiana, Orlando, and Chicago.
The timing of the BD and Li-Ning breakup now, rather than waiting until the completion of the current NBA season or running out the clock on Baron’s 5-year deal, looks to be fueled entirely by cost savings by Li-Ning and the completion of Baron’s latest quarterly payment as the official marker towards that end. Li-Ning obviously overpaid for Baron’s services at around $1.5M per and decided to negotiate a mutual departure earlier than expected. Not everyone inside the company agreed with the move, but the final decision was pushed through by Li-Ning China which inked the original deal with Baron.
We contacted Nike senior communications manager Brian Strong today to inquire about any new endorsement deal the company has signed with Baron. There is none. We also asked about Swoosh product given to Baron and was told that his Nike Zoom Kobe VI shoes were provided to the Knicks’ equipment manager by Nike.
Li-Ning’s US website is still selling a Baron Davis “Beardman T-Shirt” in blue and orange, at the time of this posting. Li-Ning is currently in a joint-venture partnership with Chicago-based Acquity Group to form “Digital Li-Ning” which operates the Chinese brand’s US operations.
Game photos of Baron Davis in Nike kicks — not Li-Ning — can be seen below.
UPDATE: We Asked Baron Davis About His Li-Ning Breakup And Nike Shoes. Here’s What He Told Us…
RELATED: Baron Davis Li-Ning Kicks Retrospective
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I own one of those shirts
I do too. The “Beardman” is one of the all-time great shoe logos.
1.5mil a year! And people wonder why athletes sign with other brands besides Nike. That’s not shabby for an injury prone point guard past his prime… heck that’s more than a rookies salary! I don’t see Chinese sneaker brands making it in the US, nothing against
Li-ning or Peak, I love the competition, but it’s a two man race right now… Nike and adidas even sale more than Chinese brands in China.
GREAT SCOOP!!
I hope Li Ning can sign new hoops players they just need to find one guy who can be a star and the kids wanna rock his sneaks its a gamble for ANY company they don’t know who will be star and who busts!! Adidas is on fire with Rose! What if a Chinese brand got him or UA or Cons?? They be on fire too with kids wanting the sneaks. Stars sell ,Li Ning will be back they got huge money overseas I can see them getting another top pick.
Well they did get Evan Turner but I think the big example of a sleeping giant catching on fire with a young hot shot is Reebok with John Wall. Everyone in my school seemed to have a pair
Li ning needs to get newer athletes or one superstar really to put money in. Get one superstar and they are in the business! B. Diddy is fun; i like him since GSW but getting old and injure frequently now. The ning need fresh legs, I like the shoes design, its just costed higher compare to Nike unless they get hotter stars to sign. You can get a KD shoe for under 100, Ning need their own KD level star to compete at that price its very simple economics!
Dont you understand it’s a Chinese cheap strategy – hiring old former stars or star teammates to endorse their Chinese brands
First li-Ning was endorsed by Damon jones who used to be Lebrun James teammate in Cleveland. When I was in Beijing in 2008 Damon jones with his linings was everywhere with Lebron on background
Jones’ shoes were poor crap though – no stability, no traction, I felt pity for jones. It was a coincidence that he soon ended his career. And as soon as Damon left Cleveland I think lining terminated his contract too.
They cant afford hiring superstars that’s why they use such a cunning marketing strategy, which I think is kinda stupid. Remember Jason Kidd who used to endorse peak, Jrich (peak too), artist who now switched to balln, and Kidd and Jrich switched back to Nike again.
That’s how Chinese brand try to save money by hiring used-to-be-stars old farts, then they terminate they contract as soon as they get slight sales growth in us market
But it.s a much better strategy IMHO to spend ten times more to hire a young prospective talented player rather than wasting money for former stars and then terminating contracts in such indecent manner
Where can I buy a Baron Davis shirt? I wanted one of these, but according to the article, they are no longer selling them. I need to buy a shirt with him on it or something of his, but there isn’t a lot of merchandise featuring him.
This company seems to do the digtal marketing for Li-Ning: http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=AQ They are pretty sharp so I’m sure Li-Ning has more up their sleeves.