Li-Nike

So turns out Shane Battier isn't the only NBA player with an endorsement deal in China. Li-Ning, another Chinese shoe company, rumoured to have been in the bidding for Kobe's services last time his shoe deal was up, has since signed on Shaq, Damon Jones and Chuck Hayes, one of this year's breakout players and Yao's teammate on the Rockets. All this money being thrown around says a lot about the size of the Chinese market and the ever-growing love of basketball in China. Like Battier's sponsor PEAK, Li-Ning does little to no business outside of its home country. But it counts Adidas and Nike as its main competition, and is still far more popular than other international brands domestically.

Li-Ning also has full sponsorship of the Argentinean and Spanish basketball team in international competitions, as well as the Sudan track and field team and a pending deal with the Swedish Olympic Committee.

Just remember this article when you're strapping on your new LeBron model Li-Nings in a few years.

Update: Turns out two more of Yao's teammates, Luis Scola and Steve Francis, have endorsement deals with a third Chinese shoe company called Anta. Scola even has his own commercial. Houston can now put out Yao Ming with a four-man unit of Chinese shoe-wearers. Leslie Alexander, owner of the Rockets, also invested HK$234.5 million in Anta last year during its IPO.