updated 1:30 p.m. ET Aug. 15, 2006

BEIJING, China - Miami Heat All-Star Shaquille O’Neal has signed a five-year deal with China-based Li-Ning Company and announced the launch of the “Shaq Dunkman” series, a new line of basketball products featuring O’Neal’s new limited-edition shoe along with other merchandise.

The new line will be available to fans in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

After the official contract signing ceremony, O’Neal was presented with a crystal model of the first pair of limited-edition basketball shoes.

“O’Neal is a wonderful NBA player, he has great character, is passionate and is a hero on the court, reminiscent of oriental heroism and of the Li-Ning brand,” said Li-Ning CEO Zhang Zhiyong. “This partnership is a completely new model for sports marketing of a China brand and introducing the Dunkman series will strengthen the competitiveness of the Li-Ning brand in China and around the world.”

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“I first knew about China’s Li-Ning brand a few years ago. I knew it was very professional and I saw how the Spanish National Basketball Team was wearing Li-Ning apparel,” O’Neal said.

O’Neal, making his first visit to China, will continue to meet with fans in Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai throughout the month of August.

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