介绍： With Stephen Curry Deal, Li-Ning of China Shoots for Global Sneaker Spotlight
The announcement by Stephen Curry, one of pro basketball's biggest stars, that he had signed a major endorsement deal with the Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning raises the profile of a company that has lacked the cachet of Western br...

介绍： With Stephen Curry Deal, Li-Ning of China Shoots for Global Sneaker Spotlight
The announcement by Stephen Curry, one of pro basketball's biggest stars, that he had signed a major endorsement deal with the Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning raises the profile of a company that has lacked the cachet of Western brands like Nike or Adidas.
The agreement, which Mr. Curry announced on Monday, is set to give the N.B.A. star access to China’s enormous consumer base, while offering Li-Ning its biggest ever inroad into the U.S. sportswear market.
The company is one of China's most successful sportswear brands and reported $4.3 billion in revenue last year, though nearly all of its earnings come from domestic sales, according to the company's publicly available financial reports.
The basketball star parted ways with his previous sponsor, the American sportswear maker Under Armour, in 2025 after a 12-year partnership. The terms of the split allowed Mr. Curry to keep his personal brand and take it to another company.
Mr. Curry wrote on Monday that during his "sneaker free agency," he was impressed by the quality and comfort of Li-Ning shoes, and by its founder, who was also an athlete.
For decades, the N.B.A. has been dominated by Western brands including Nike and Adidas. But the Curry deal is the latest example of an N.B.A. star signing with a Chinese company. Others include Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving with Anta and Aaron Gordon with 361 Degrees.
Other Chinese brands are also trying to find customers in the United States, as they work to escape cutthroat competition and a sluggish economy at home.
生词好句
1.shoot for something 争取，把目标瞄准某个东西
shoot v. 投篮，射门
The Chinese space program has been shooting for a crewed moon landing by 2030.中国航天一直在为 2030 年前的载人登月而努力。
2.endorsement 英 [ɪnˈdɔːsmənt] 美 [ɪnˈdɔːrsmənt] n. 代言，背书
The champion athlete's endorsement of the sports drink boosted its sales.冠军运动员对这款运动饮料的代言促进了销量。
3.cachet 英 [ˈkæʃeɪ] 美 [kæˈʃeɪ] n. （本文）格调与光环，高级感；（词源法语）印章，封印
Studying at Oxford carries a certain cachet. 在牛津读书，自带一种格调。
4.inroad 英 [ˈɪnrəʊd] 美 [ˈɪnroʊd] n. 突破口，进展
make inroads into something 在某方面取得进展
The startup is making inroads into a market long dominated by giants.这家创业公司，正在打入一个长期被巨头垄断的市场。
5.part ways 分道扬镳，各走各的路
part v. 分开
近义词辨析：part VS. leave VS. break up
part比直接说 leave（离开）或者 break up（闹掰）要体面得多，是一种"好聚好散"的标准商业措辞。
After years together, the two founders parted ways amicably.合作多年之后，两位创始人友好地分了手。
6.sneaker free agency 球鞋自由身
sneaker n. 泛指运动鞋、潮鞋、休闲鞋
The star player entered free agency and every team wanted him.这位明星球员成了自由球员，每支球队都想要他。
free agency指NBA或者其他联赛的自由球员身份——一个球员的合约到期了，不再属于任何球队，也就可以自由地和任何一家球会谈判、签约。
7.dominate 英 [ˈdɒmɪneɪt] 美 [ˈdɑːmɪneɪt] v. 主宰，统治
dominate来自拉丁语的“主人”。
For years, a few firms dominated the entire industry.多年来，少数几家公司主宰了整个行业。
8.cutthroat 英 [ˈkʌtθrəʊt] 美 [ˈkʌtθroʊt] adj. 割喉式的，你死我活的，刺刀见红的
The food delivery market is cutthroat, with apps burning cash to survive.外卖市场竞争惨烈，各家 App烧钱求生。
9.sluggish 英 [ˈslʌɡɪʃ] 美 [ˈslʌɡɪʃ] adj. 趋稳的，迟缓的
slug n. 鼻涕虫，一种慢速爬行的软体动物
a sluggish economy 增速比较趋于平缓的经济
Recent car sales slowed sharply in a sluggish economy.在趋缓的经济环境下，近期汽车销量急剧放缓。
英文原文