Stephen Curry received a welcome unlike any other during his stop at Li-Ning headquarters in Beijing as part of his 2026 China Tour, and it came in the form of a gift built one message at a time.
The Golden State Warriors superstar was presented with a 1,990-piece puzzle portrait, as published by @jinthirty on X, with every single piece carrying a handwritten message of support from Li-Ning employees. Staff members contributed individual notes of encouragement that were assembled into a full portrait of the four-time NBA champion, unveiled at the Li-Ning Center.
The visit comes early in Curry’s major new endorsement deal with Li-Ning. In June 2026, he announced a 10-year partnership reportedly worth more than $400 million after parting ways with Under Armour following a 12-year relationship.
The deal brings Curry Brand under the Li-Ning umbrella, covering basketball footwear and apparel, athleisure, and a full golf line. This is a nod to Curry’s well-documented love for the sport outside of basketball.
The agreement also includes plans to open Curry Brand retail stores in both the United States and China, giving his label real physical presence in two of the largest markets in the world.
For Li-Ning, founded by Olympic gymnast Li Ning, landing one of the NBA’s most recognizable and accomplished stars is a significant move toward raising its global profile alongside other major Chinese sports brands.
As such, the puzzle portrait, as posted on X by @jinthirty, stood apart from the usual corporate welcome gift. Instead of something generic, the 1,990 handwritten messages turned the moment into a collective show of support straight from the people working at the company.
Curry views this as more than just a deal
Curry has framed the partnership as something deeper than a typical sponsorship. As per Hoopshype, Curry pointed to Li-Ning’s focus on innovation and product quality, saying he came away impressed watching how the brand’s signature lines performed for players like Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler.
The collaboration gives Curry room to keep growing Curry Brand while leaning on Li-Ning’s manufacturing capabilities, distribution reach, and long-standing presence in China.
As Curry continues through the rest of his multi-city China Tour, the Li-Ning headquarters stop worked as both a celebration of the new deal and a signal of the kind of relationship both sides are hoping to build going forward.
Do you think this kind of personal gesture will help Curry connect more deeply with fans in China, or is it just a nice PR moment?