Michael Jordan has served as a prominent figure for Nike and played a significant role in elevating the brand to its current global prominence. In a recently resurfaced old video clip, the six-time champion discusses the time when he came close to signing with Adidas, but the company ultimately failed to finalize the deal, leaving him in a state of uncertainty.

Air Jordan, which was established around Michael Jordan and is currently owned by Nike, has become a highly valuable brand worth more than a billion dollars. It is fascinating to speculate on the potential outcome if MJ had never signed with Nike. Hearing from Jordan about his willingness to join his arch-rivals adds another layer of intrigue to the story.

Michael Jordan left hanging by billion-dollar sports company

The Air Jordan sneakers are a cultural sensation. The right pair of sneakers hold equal value on the court as they do on a fashion ramp. According to reports, Michael Jordan revealed the reason behind his decision to sign with Nike instead of Adidas, a company worth approximately $14.6 billion.

The Bulls icon initially mentioned, “I never wore Nike shoes until I signed the contract.”  When talking about attending meetings, he said, “Once I went through the presentation of Nike,” adding, “I can have my input on my shoe design. Any shoes that I wanted to wear.” Despite being tempted by Nike’s offerings, however, Jordan initially went back to Adidas.

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MJ revealed his initial intention to sign with rival Adidas if they managed to come anywhere close to Nike’s contract. He highlighted that the company, which at that point was Euro-centric, did not pay attention to him as they were not making a significant investment in the United States. He said, “They didn’t feel like it was worth it.”

According to Jasmine Jordan, if MJ’s first Nike contract had been more lucrative, the Jordan family could have potentially amassed trillions of dollars. She emphasized the potential impact it could have had, stating, “It would have changed the game. He would have potentially approached his contracts with Nike differently. Looking at his Funko Pop collectibles or the fact that people still wear his UNC jersey, to reap the benefits from it today, we’re talking making trillions at this point.”

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