Lakers legend Magic Johnson once shared that he had a poster of this basketball legend in his dorm room. The man in question was famously nicknamed the Ice Man for his stunningly cool demeanor. He was a legend both on and off the court and continues to inspire players to this day. Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, the player held the most scoring titles in the league at the time. Before Michael Jordan, this basketball legend was taking the league by storm with his awe inspiring style. 

And the basketball star is none other than George Gervin. Did you know that he was also one of the most important players who played a crucial role in the popularity of Nike?

When did George Gervin sign the deal with Nike?

When he entered the league, he had a deal with Adidas. Later, he signed a deal with Nike for $150,000. That is how he became the first Nike player to receive a “player-exclusive” shoe. In 1981, he scored 40+ points when he returned after an injury. Speaking of his stunning game, his response was, “Just the way the Lord planned it. Ice be cool.” He had signed the deal with the company back in 1977 and became a key endorser of the brand.

His Nike poster also showcased that exact “Ice cool” persona of the former San Antonio Spurs star. Gervin is seen sitting on top of the ice throne, which quickly became iconic back in those days.

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Inspired by this poster, the basketball legend also started his own clothing line for both men and women. Gervin even recreated his old pose from the poster. He is one of the oldest players to sign with Nike, but the first was former Portland Trail Blazers player Geoff Petrie. Despite that, his connection with the brand was iconic.

George Gervin’s contract pages sold at auction 

The NBA Hall of Famer played nearly 10 years with the San Antonio Spurs. He was a 4x National Basketball Association leading scorer. His last season in the league was with the Chicago Bulls, playing alongside Michael Jordan, who has always praised the basketball legend. His legendary legacy was also significant for the brand.

Even the original 12-page contract that was signed between Gervin and Nike, formerly called Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS), went up for auction at goldinauctions.com. It was expected to start from $400.

It is not so surprising how the Iceman and the brand became so popular among the fans as well as the players.