Hall of Famer Mitch Richmond : ‘Michael Jordan Changed the Game in So Many Other Ways Not Only on the Court, but off the Court’

Published 11/26/2021, 11:54 AM EST

Legendary shooting Guard Mitch Richmond was all praises for Michael Jordan in a recent interview. Mitch was asked about who is the GOAT and he had the obvious answer, Michael Jordan. Richmond talked about how Jordan changed the game not only on the court but also outside of it.

Mitch Richmond said,” Mike (Michael Jordan)changed the game in so many other ways, not only on the court but off the court. Guys started doing endorsements, you know getting checks from not just playing basketball, he just opened the door for a lot of things.“

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Michael Jordan: Changing the Game

Michael Jordan’s exploits in basketball need no introduction. Jordan had huge endorsement deals with brands, which paved the way for other athletes to do the same. Jordan was the face of Gatorade, an energy drink, during his playing days. He also had major deals with Nike and McDonald’s.

During the early 1990s, Jordan earned approximately $30 million a year in deals with Nike and Gatorade, to name a few.

The NBA started becoming more and more popular in the 90s with Jordan taking the centre stage. As a result, other players also became more popular. Sneaker and apparel companies became more willing to negotiate massive deals with rookies.

Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan

MJ’s Air Jordan series is a classic example of marketing genius. The sneaker line was the only one to rise in value during the Covid-19 pandemic, as total company revenue dropped by 38%.

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The first Air Jordan was banned by the association for not conforming to uniformity rules in 1984. “I kept wearing them, and [Commissioner] David Stern started fining me“, Jordan mentioned in his book, For The Love of The Game.

As the news of the banning kept spreading, the shoes got more popular. Nike paid for all the fines. The campaign was hugely successful, with the news spreading like wildfire.

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The Jordan brand has not limited itself to only sneakers, the brand has also released hoodies, shirts, and also sandals. Huge collaborations with rapper Travis Scott and Paris Saint Germain have helped the brand only get more popular.

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Abhinava is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor's in Journalism and Mass Communication. Abhinava has been following NBA for the past 6 years and is a huge fan of the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry.

Hall of Famer Mitch Richmond : ‘Michael Jordan Changed the Game in So Many Other Ways Not Only on the Court, but off the Court’

Michael Jordan: Changing the Game

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Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan