With an NBA championship in his hand and an MVP Finals trophy, Dwyane Wade is the most marketable player in the NBA today and that's a great thing for Nike. Three years ago, Nike missed out on Wade, choosing instead to commit more than $100 million (LeBron James got a seven-year, $90 million deal and Carmelo Anthony inked a six-year, $18 million for the Jordan brand) to other players. Meanwhile, Converse - a dying brand itching to get back into basketball - signed a host of rookies including Dwyane Wade for a measly $400,000 a year.
Nike is Nike for a reason, but they clearly missed the boat with the Marquette guard that was drafted fifth by the Miami Heat. Wade was hardly the reason why Nike acquired Converse for $305 million only months after Wade signed to the brand, but he could be the main reason why the brand looks like it can survive in the performance basketball shoe space, as opposed to the strictly fashion item it had become.
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