Michael Jordan’s Brand Breaks New Grounds by Signing Latest “No.1 Point Guard Recruit in the Country”

Published 10/31/2022, 12:44 PM EDT

Billionaire NBA legend Michael Jordan is breaking new records despite having retired from the NBA for quite some time now. His signature brand, ‘Jordan’ recently signed its first-ever NIL athlete.

Kiki Rice, the five-star recruit from UCLA is the first-ever NIL star to be signed by Jordan. She is the number 1 point guard recruit in the country and her association with Jordan sets the ground for future athletes.

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BREAKING: Jordan Brand has signed its first NIL athlete.

UCLA 5-star signee Kiki Rice, the No. 1 point guard recruit in the country 🏀 pic.twitter.com/RY6mNBvLhd
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) October 31, 2022

Rice was adjudged the 2022 Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year back in July. In addition, the UCLA freshman has also led the Sidwell Friends school to its first-ever city championship in Washington D.C.

What did Rice have to say about signing with Michael Jordan?

Signing with Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan‘s brand is a dream for millions of athletes around the world. According to Rice, this deal “doesn’t even seem real yet.”

Michael Jordan and Derek Jeter Pioneered an Elusive Relationship That Eventually Saw Deion Sanders and Others Linked to the $10 Billion Brand

Talking about this historic deal, the basketball sensation had a lot to say. She said, “Being Jordan Brand’s first NIL athlete is an incredible milestone, and I think it’s a testament to the hard work I’ve put in and all the people around me who have helped me get to this point.”

Interestingly enough, the Jordan brand has a history of making statement associations with female athletes. A few years ago, the brand signed five WNBA stars.

Jordin Canada, Te’a Cooper, Crystal Dangerfield, Dearica Hamby, and Satou Sabally became a part of history as they comprised the largest female roster in the brand’s history. (Source: WNBA)

The Jordan brand has an elite NBA roster

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Six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan’s brand is slowly becoming one of the leading companies to sponsor NBA athletes. Some of the names associated with Jordan are Jayson Tatum, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and more.

Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic rejected the likes of Adidas and Puma to sign with Jordan. The #1 overall pick joins an impressive list of NBA stars signed to one of the most iconic companies in the world.

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What is your favorite memory of Michael Jordan? Let us know in the comments down below.

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Written by:

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.

Michael Jordan’s Brand Breaks New Grounds by Signing Latest “No.1 Point Guard Recruit in the Country”

What did Rice have to say about signing with Michael Jordan?

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The Jordan brand has an elite NBA roster