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In the last week, Jordan Brand has said goodbye to one spokesperson and hello to another. Dwyane Wade, who was the shoe company's signature athlete, left for a lucrative deal with Chinese shoe company Li-Ning. Jordan Brand didn't waste much time finding Wade's replacement, signing Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook away from parent company Nike. Lance Madden of Forbes Magazine writes the move is smart for both Westbrook and Jordan Brand:
"Although there are more than a dozen basketball player endorsers, Westbrook joins Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony as the top NBA endorsers of Jordan Brand. As if joining the ranks of Paul and Anthony aren't enough, Westbrook can be rest assured that whatever Jordan Brand merchandise he's repping will be very well marketed."
Westbrook's addition gives Jordan Brand a player just coming in to his prime to go along with Paul and Anthony. Westbrook is also incredibly popular with a younger generation of NBA fans who will be sure to gobble up any future signature shoes and apparel.