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It has been over two decades now that Michael Jordan retired from the game of basketball. However, his influence on the game never seems to stop. Although he isn’t involved on-court, the 6-time NBA champion has established his dominance on the off-court side. He signed Zion Williamson, Jayson Tatum, and Luka Doncic to his Jordan brand within the span of months.

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After adding some of the most exciting players to his roster, the billionaire has focused on the rookies. Four rookies were signed to the brand and Houston Rockets rookie, Cam Whitmore, was very excited to be a part of the family.

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Rockets rookie can’t contain his excitement to represent Michael Jordan

Air Jordan has taken the sporting world by storm over the past few years. Thanks to its immense popularity and clever marketing tactics, the brand rivals heavyweights like Adidas and Nike on the global stage. In 2022, they amassed an incredible $5.2 billion in revenue. The Air Jordan brand has a net worth of $10 billion according to Forbes.

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Recently, Cam Whitmore, Jaime Jaquez Jr, Jett Howard, and Marcus Sasser were signed under Michael Jordan. They all happen to be 1st round picks of the 2023 NBA draft.

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Interestingly, this is not the first time Whitmore will be playing under the Jordan brand. Prior to his AAU days, Whitmore played for Team Melo in 7th grade- sponsored by Carmelo Anthony and the Jordan brand. “From starting on Team Melo’s 7th grade squad to being an official Jordan Brand athlete? This is crazy. I’ve been rocking Jordans since I was a youngin’, and I’m very grateful and appreciative to be a part of this family”, said Whitmore as per Boardroom.

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READ MORE: “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

Whitmore doesn’t just want to represent the Jordan brand, he also wants to embody the spirit of the NBA GOAT, Michael Jordan, himself. During the conversation with Boardroom, Whitmore also revealed how he is taking inspiration from the NBA Hall of Famer.  “The way Jordan carried himself on and off the court – that Jordan mentality – is something I am going to try and carry with me as I look to inspire the next wave of athletes”, said the 20th overall draft pick.

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The previous rookie signed by Jordan was very successful

Paolo Banchero was the 2022 #1 overall pick drafted by the Orlando Magic. Playing for Duke, Banchero was hyped to be the next big thing in basketball since his college days. It didn’t come as a surprise that huge corporations came calling for his signature.

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However, he chose to represent MJ and the Air Jordan brand. During an interview, the Magic star revealed that he had offers from Adidas and Puma on the table.

After a brilliant rookie season with the Magic, Paolo Banchero was rightfully awarded the Rookie of the Year award. He averaged 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists.

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WATCH THIS STORY: Warriors Star Draymond Green Demands More “Respect” for Dwyane Wade at the Expense of Russell Westbrook

What are your thoughts on Jordan’s latest signings? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by

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Abhinava Ghosh

1,823 Articles

Abhinava Ghosh is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports with a wealth of experience covering the league. He has written over 1400 articles for EssentiallySports, showcasing his expertise in analyzing and reporting on NBA trade rumors, injury updates, and the ever-changing dynamics of the league. He had successfully covered the entire Kevin Durant trade saga at Brooklyn, which led to the basketball legend’s move to the Desert. He also kept our readers updated on the Brittney Griner situation throughout her exile in Russia. One of Abhinava's proudest moments came in 2015 when the Golden State Warriors won the NBA title after 40 years. As a lifelong fan of the Dubs, Abhinava was thrilled to see his team reach the pinnacle of the sport, but he remained objective and professional in his reporting.

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Edited by

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Saumya Khanduja

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