Michael Jeffery Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player to ever step foot on an NBA court. Nay, he might be the greatest athlete to ever live. His career culminated with 5 NBA MVPs, 6 championships, and 6 Finals MVPs. Everyone in the world knew his name and of his greatness but it wasn’t always like this. When Jordan was coming into the league in 1984 no one could predict how good a 21-year-old coming out of UNC would be, including Nike.
When LeBron James was going to be drafted in 2003, he came into the league with the hype behind him, that predicted he would become an All-Time great. It was guaranteed and no one doubted him or his skillset.
This was not the case for Michael Jordan. He was projected to go top 3, as he had just stunned the world by hitting a buzzer-beater to win the NCAA state title for UNC. Still, the expectation was for him to become a fringe All-Star as more importance was given to tall forwards in those days. Boy, they were so incredibly wrong.
Nike conditions for rookie Michael Jordan contract:
– Either be rookie of the year.
OR
– Average 20 points
OR
– Be an All-Star
OR
– Sell $4 millions worth shoes in a yearThat rookie year
All-Star
Rookie of the Year
28.2 points per game
Sold $100 million in shoes#NBA pic.twitter.com/vup0nyu6qr— The Jordan Rules (@Rules23Jordan) May 31, 2023
When an athlete signs an endorsement deal, there are certain goals they must reach, play-wise to guarantee that they get the check at the end of the day. Jordan’s conditions stated that he must either be the ROTY, be averaging 20 points per game, make the All-Star game, or sell $4 million in shoes.
Jordan decimated these conditions to the general shock of everyone in the league, averaging 28.2 points, being an All-Star, winning rookie of the year, and most impressive of all, selling $100 million of the Jordan 1 shoe.
Michael Jordan’s performance requirements with Nike leave fans awe-struck on Twitter
A Twitter user going by the name @The Jordan Rules, posted about Nike’s initial conditions for Jordan, in his inaugural five-year $2.5 million contract. Fans’ reactions are in awe of what Jordan was able to accomplish in just his rookie year with a fan stating, “Jordan single-handedly saved Nike.” This is a very well-known and well-researched sentiment which in all essence could seem to be true.
Jordan single-handedly saved nike
— Just a photographer with cool cars (@nigelthought) June 1, 2023
A user brought up an interesting connotation in the Jordan vs LeBron debate. At least In the realm of shoe sales, Jordan far out outperforms his younger counterpart as Jordan shoes are seen not just as basketball sneakers but as lifestyle and fashion sneakers as well.
Perfect example how no one expected jordan to be as nice as he was. Lebron was expected to score 500 points in his first game
— N-SB RETIRED MOD (@WayNFT22) May 31, 2023
Nike sold $142M worth of Air Jordan on its first year
— Jack Tregim (@mycorrectview) June 1, 2023
Michael Jordan really must be credited, with bringing Nike into the mainstream sports world as before him they were known solely as a running shoes company and were far outclassed by competitor brands such as Adidas and Converse. The Jordan 1 sparked Nike’s resurgence into the sports world and they haven’t stopped innovating since.
His mother goes down as the greatest unpaid agent of all time making that deal!
— Von Jonz (@VonJonz) June 1, 2023
WE ARE ALL WITNESSES!!! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gKkznKF1hd
— James Jr. (@Whodat4lyfe1) May 31, 2023
There are few in the world that do not consider Michael Jordan to be the GOAT. His work ethic and level of greatness on and off the court is yet to be seen exhibited by a modern player and the bottom line is, the NBA would never be the same after that fateful day when Jordan was drafted to the Chicago Bulls in 1984.
