Dwyane Wade is among the most prolific players in the history of the game. Moreover, his post-basketball career has been just as excellent as his on-court career. However, it is a genuine surprise how marketable the 3-time Champion has been. While most stars sign endorsement deals with major brands like Nike and Under Armor, Wade chose a different path. Even though he initially signed with a popular brand, his decision to change courses has been divisive, to say the least.

As he prepares to drop his latest shoe, unfortunately, fans remain conflicted over the product.

Way of Wade: The Story of Dwyane Wade

During the 2012 season, soon after aligning with LeBron James and Chris Bosh, Wade made the decision to switch brands. After initially signing with the Jordan brand in 2009, Wade opted to switch over to a relatively unknown brand. Calling his move a shift from the status quo, Wade envisioned himself as a trailblazer. 

In an unexpected move, the Miami Heat legend shifted to a Chinese brand called Li-Ning. While the move caused heavy scrutiny, the business side has worked out well for DWade. While the initial contract was worth just  $10 million over 8 years, the company also named him Chief Brand Officer.

In addition, Wade also formed his own subsidiary brand called the Way of Wade. Though risky, the company has become immensely popular. In 2020, the 13-time All-Star signed a lifetime deal with the company. Furthermore, he has also signed big-time NBA names like Jimmy Butler and Fred Vanvleet.

Recently, Wade took to Instagram to showcase some of the top models from his line. Captioned, “Work best on the court, styled the best off the court”, the video saw Wade work through most of the iconic Wade kicks. However, fans had a divided opinion.

Just like his on-court career, fans could not agree to a common sentiment regarding the brand.

Fans remain split over DWade’s sneakers

While Wade forged an unimpeachable legacy in his playing career, fans remain divided over his shoes. A part of it might be Jordan fans angry over the Chicago native ditching their idol. Regardless of the reasons, fans were quick to call his deal among the worst in sports. “Worse Player shoe deal ever.” Another fan shared the same sentiment, remarking on the lack of the brand’s visibility. “Idk who he made his brand for. But never seen anyone with a pair, nor I never seen them in stores in the NY or online to buy smh”. Some fans just didn’t like the style, claiming, “My favorite player and Top 5 sg all time. Those ain’t drip though.” 

However, there were an equally high number of fans claiming to love the shoes. Comments like “I’ve been hooping in nothing but Way Of Wades @dwyanewade no more Nike & Adidas.” and “This is dope” were commonplace.

While fan opinion remains divided on them, Dwyane Wade‘s decision from 2012 has panned out well from a business perspective. What do you think of the Way of Wade? Let us know in the comments below.

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