Michael Jordan was initially reluctant to join Nike. Despite his obvious basketball prowess, young Jordan had his sights set on a career with Adidas. When Jordan went to Nike’s headquarters after pressure from his parents, the business made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Even after signing, he refused to wear the shoes because he didn’t agree with the color. The release of Jordans from Nike was a huge success, helping MJ’s brand to new heights and earning him an incredible 250 million USD in only one year.
Michael Jordan reportedly refused to wear Air Jordan I
In 1984, when he was drafted third overall by the Chicago Bulls, Jordan originally had his eyes set on Adidas.
At that time, Nike was primarily known for track shoes, while Converse dominated the NBA with star players like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Despite having an interest in Jordan, Adidas couldn’t prioritize a rookie. “They told me, ‘We cannot envision you being put ahead of them,'” Jordan recalls in “The Last Dance,” a documentary series chronicling the Bulls’ quest for a sixth championship in 1998.
After Michael Jordan made a memorable signing with Nike, the company presented him with the initial sketches for a unique line of shoes, tracksuits, and sportswear. To set Jordan apart from other players, all items were adorned with striking red and black colors, including the iconic Air Jordan 1. Jordan’s former agent, David Falk, had a different vision. He thought there was more potential in being with Nike, even though Adidas was facing internal challenges.
“Adidas was really dysfunctional by that time,” Falk explains, “And they had just told me, ‘We’d love to have Jordan. We just can’t make a shoe work at this point in time. I wanted Michael to go with Nike because they were the upstart.”
Eventually, Jordan agreed to visit the Nike campus as his mother told him to go there whether or not he decided to sign with them. Over there, he was presented with an irresistible offer he couldn’t turn down. However, the color scheme of red and black caught him by surprise, and he hesitated to wear them, saying- “I can’t wear that shoe; those are devil colors.” Nevertheless, Mike’s partnership with Nike ultimately became one to be remembered for the coming years.
Jordan became the first billionaire of sports thanks to Nike
Jordan became the first billionaire of sports thanks to Nike. In 1984, he signed a five-year, 2.5 million USD deal with the brand which was the start of their relationship. Throughout his two-decade NBA career, Jordan earned $95 million, but it was his business endorsements, especially with Nike, that helped him to gain such wealth.
The Jordan brand’s yearly sales have been on a constant rise hitting 5 billion USD in 2022 alone. This means that Jordan receives an incredible $255 million for the year. From 2018 to 2022, his earnings with Nike alone were nearly $2 billion.
Deloris Jordan, his mother was the one who helped him reach these heights. At the start of his career, she negotiated a 5% royalty for every sale under Jordan’s name, a decision that has helped him become a billionaire.
