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“Don’t Mean to Sh*t on Under Armor”: At the Expense of $5.1 Billion Michael Jordan Brand, ex-NBA Star Belittles Stephen Curry’s Sneakers

Published 10/13/2023, 5:48 AM EDT

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Stephen Curry lately made headlines while being pitted against the legendary Magic Johnson. The debate reached its pinnacle in the offseason. The discourse centered around determining the greatest point guard of all time. Input is heavily pouring in from fans, analysts, and even Michael Jordan himself.

While the ongoing discussion about the debate has offered a fascinating insight into the perspectives of various basketball enthusiasts, it appears that the dust has settled, at least for the time being. However, Steph’s name has once again emerged in connection with a basketball icon, this time none other than Michael Jordan himself.

Former NBA star put Stephen Curry behind Michael Jordan

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In a recent conversation on Gil’s Arena, former superstar Gilbert Arenas hosted a discussion with UNC legend Rashad McCants and NBA star Kenyon Martin, and things got spicy. During the chat, Martin made it abundantly clear that he ranks Michael Jordan above Stephen Curry.

The take came when the group discussed who among Stephen Curry and Michael Jordan holds more influence in the world of basketball. Their reference sheet included NBA accolades such as MVP awards and championships, as well as a few off-court statistics. With a specific focus on their signature shoe lines, Martin didn’t mince words when he stated, “I don’t mean to sh** on under armour, but that last one [sneaker stat] ain’t even a comparison.”

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Martin’s argument stemmed from the enduring relevance of Jordan’s iconic sneakers. He firmly asserted that Jordan’s sneaker empire has no equal.

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According to numbers, Martin isn’t wrong. In fact, Air Jordan raked in nearly $5.1 billion from its products in 2022 alone. This staggering sum surpasses the worth of most NBA franchises, even in today’s bustling economic landscape. Jordan’s shoe game is equivalent to a poster slam in the business world.

Gilbert Arenas gives an interesting answer

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The influence of both Jordan and Curry transcends the realm of elite hoopers to the pros. Be it through His Airness and never seen acrobatics, or be it through unexpected long range shots and constant showmanship. However, it has been seen that their impact easily reached casual fans and even those who may not have ever set foot on a basketball court.

Talking about the same, Arenas emphasized that every fan thinks they can be Stephen Curry. However, he then gave a thought-igniting point that, on the other hand, everybody wanted to be MJ.

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Arenas further adds that even though one cannot be like Mike, everyone aspires to be like him. 

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Written by:

Saahil Dhillan

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Saahil Dhillan is an NBA Writer at Essentially Sports. He has been writing articles and blogs for 5 years now, including those for a sports brand that manufactures knee braces, for a Red Bull athlete in 2019 and for a documentary of an Ultra Running Coach in 2021. There’s plenty Saahil can write about why he likes basketball, having followed the NBA for more than 10 years, but he is most keen on picking out various offense/defense strategies, on/off-court decisions, roster changes in crunch time and other underrated key elements that leave an impact on the scoreboard.
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Edited by:

Bilal Handoo