When Dwayne Wade announced his lifetime sponsorship contract with Li-Ning, he joined an elite group of athletes with lasting legacies. At the time, only Michael Jordan, LeBron James & Cristiano Ronaldo had lifetime deals, and given that they were all with Nike (Wade’s former sponsor), it spoke volumes about his trust in their project. Now, 3 years after the announcement, Li-Ning & Wade have set up the launch of the Way of Wade 9.

Though the shoe has been announced via Way of Wade’s Instagram account, Nick DePaula has given a better early look. Showcasing two colorways on Twitter, he highlights standout features of the WoW 9, set to arrive in Black & White. A futuristic design, a zipper shroud covers the BOA Fit dial cord system on the White pair, replacing conventional lacing seen on previous models. On the Black model there seems not to be a BAO Fit system, though a lower-cut lace shroud is included.

While this is just a first look, Li-Ning’s Way of Wade line shows promise for brands entering a dominated market. With conscious design, a good set of athletes, and a strategic approach they have demonstrated a growth worthy of recognition. So far there isn’t a release date or price set for the WoW 9, but preliminary images are found below. As usual, keep up to date with the latest from Li-Ning & Way of Wade only at Nice Kicks!