NBA rumors: Li-Ning pushing for lucrative contract with D’Angelo Russell

D'Angelo Russell's wallet could be getting fatter.

Chinese brand Li-Ning is trying to sign the Warriors guard to a lucrative contract, Marc Stein of The New York Times reported Thursday.

Basketball development of a different sort from China: The Li-Ning brand Way of Wade has been pushing to close a lucrative deal with new Warriors guard D'Angelo Russell to make Russell a brand ambassador, according to industry sources
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 17, 2019

Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.

This has been in the works for a while now, as NBC Sports Bay Area's Logan Murdock tweeted the following Oct. 1:

Sneaker free agent D’Angelo Russell is rocking Li Ning Way of Wade shoes today. When asked about when he’ll make a decision on a brand, he said “we’ll see.” pic.twitter.com/5ZhaFfRXNc
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) October 1, 2019

But the timing of this news -- considering the precarious situation the NBA finds itself in with China following Rockets general manager Daryl Morey's controversial tweet -- is quite surprising.

If Russell ultimately teams up with Li-Ning, he will compete in the shoe game with teammate Klay Thompson, who has a deal with Anta.