Dwyane Wade Stands By Michael Jordan On Players Boycotting Jordan Brand

Jordan’s stance as the leader of the hardline owners led to some venom coming his way from players. Several players vowed to shun Jordan’s merchandise, including Brandon Rush, Paul George, Klay Thompson and, most notably, Washington Wizards guard Nick Young.
Dwyane Wade has now spoke out about it. Check what he had to say after the jump…


In an interview with the Sun Sentinel, Wade said he plans to play competitive basketball this season, even if it means playing overseas amid the lockout.

But he also said he would not allow the lockout get in the way of his marketing relationship with Michael Jordan, even with the Charlotte Bobcats owner taking a hard-line stance against the players during the stalled negotiations over a new collective-bargaining agreement.

Amid the recent height of lockout rancor, Jordan was singled out by several of Wade’s union brethren for his uncompromising lockout stance against the players. Wade is among the leading endorsers of Jordan’s apparel.

“I really didn’t need to get involved in all that,” Wade said. “Obviously I wear a different hat than certain other guys that got involved in it. And I stay away from it. I have an obligation and I have a job to do and I’m going to do my job.”

Several players vowed to shun Jordan’s merchandise, includingPaul George, Klay Thompson and, most notably, Washington Wizards guard Nick Young, who posted on his Twitter account, “I’m not wearing Jordans no more. Can’t believe what I just seen and heard from M.J. Elvis Done Left The Building.”

“That’s on Nick Young,” Wade said. “That’s his moment. Obviously, that’s his own choice and decision and, you know, that’s something he’s going to have to deal with. I can’t let that affect me. I have my own things to run, my own stuff to think about what I’m doing with my own shoes.

“Obviously, I heard about it, because you can’t do nothing but hear about everything now, because there’s nothing else to do.”

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WRITTEN BY Ira Winderman / iwinderman@tribune.com, Twitter @IraHeatBeat & FULL STORY HERE