Li-Ning’s reported US$400 million deal isn’t just about selling sports shoes, analysts say - it’s about leveraging one of basketball’s biggest and most influential athletes to raise its global profile.

Li-Ning offers something harder to match than money: room to make Curry Brand the centerpiece.

Li-Ning’s reported US$400 million deal isn’t just about selling sports shoes, analysts say - it’s about leveraging one of basketball’s biggest and most influential athletes to…