Converse Seized $2.4 Million From Injured Dwyane Wade for Unfulfillment of One Major Clause

Dwyane Wade‘s collaboration with Li-Ning is a well-established one. The world-famous Chinese brand has given the Miami Heat icon a wide reach, but before Li-Ning, there were two other brands that Wade had collaborated with. First, with Converse; and later, with the Jordans. Wade signed with Converse in 2005, shortly after which he even got his own signature shoe, but in just a few years, he switched sides. Almost two decades later, Wade has hinted at the reason behind it, revealing a major clause that he did not fulfill during his time with Converse. 

On his podcast, The Why With the Wade, the NBA legend revealed, “If you don’t play a certain amount of games, they pro-rate you. There has been multiple years where I have given back multiple millions of dollars because I didn’t reach the game…Nike, Converse, Jordan, they’ve been pro-rating you. If you don’t reach this certain amount of games, you gotta get back…I think I played 51 games, two years in a row for the Miami Heat, I lost 2.4 million dollars, both the years in a row. They pro-rated me.” 

Dwayne Wade was the face of the basketball line for Converse in 2005. Although he was competing with the signature shoes of LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony, he decided not to wear Converse, which surprised many. In 2009, Wade signed with Jordan, before he finally signed a $10 million deal with Li-Ning in 2012. So, was pro-rating the only reason behind Wade’s exit from Converse? 

What did Dwyane Wade have to say about his departure from Converse? 

Converse has been very precise with its choices. Also, they have been a part of the NBA since its early days, around the 1950s. They thought Wade was their perfect choice, but Wade did not think so. According to a report from CNBC, Wade revealed, “I didn’t want to be in the Converse brand anymore because it seemed like they didn’t know what to do with me.” He also shared that he wanted to collaborate with a brand that could give him a global reach. 

And that is why the 2006 Finals MVP joined forces with Li-Ning, which has more than 7,000 stores across Asia alone. Moreover, Wade signed a lifetime deal with Li-Ning in 2018, one season before his retirement. Clearly, pro-rating was not the only reason behind Wade’s exit from Converse. Global reach was a crucial factor too. 

After several years, Converse is about to sign Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to give him a signature shoe of his own. Let’s wait and watch if Converse can give the young point guard a global reach this time.