La mujer detrás de Michael Jordan

The woman behind Michael Jordan

Very few figures in the world have a cultural impact like Michael Jordan's.
 
 
MJ and the sports brand Nike are inseparable.
 
 
When you think of sneakers, you automatically think of the Chicago Bulls legend.
 
 
What few people know is that his mother played a fundamental role in Michael's decision to sign with Nike.
 
 
In the 80s, the two leading companies in sports fashion were Converse and Adidas; Nike was in the background.
 
 
 
Every year, the three brands bet on young prospects, "Rookies" of the NBA.

 

The key came in 1984, when Michael left North Carolina and was heading to the NBA, with his agent David Falk contacting him to seek proposals from sports brands.

 

As a condition, Jordan requested an exclusive sneaker model, something that neither Adidas nor Converse wanted to provide, but Nike did.

 

Jordan didn't want to go to Nike; he wanted to cancel the meeting, but his mother, Deloris Jordan, forced him to attend and hear the proposal.

 

Still with doubts, but with his family's support, and with 5% of the company's annual sales going to the basketball player, MJ signed with Nike. The rest is history...

 

Michael Jordan debuted in the NBA with his Air Jordan I model, which was ready by the end of the year and commercialized in 1985.

 

Sales forecasts were 3 million dollars in the first year, but 126 million were achieved in that initial year.

 

In 2022, Air Jordan billed 5 billion dollars, 11.5 percent of Nike's entire business, while Michael Jordan is the highest-earning athlete of all time, with 3 billion dollars.

 

This historic agreement, portrayed in Ben Affleck's film Air, was possible thanks to the firmness of Deloris Jordan, the woman behind MJ.

 

P.S.: I recommend the movie "Air" if you are interested in seeing how the events unfolded; it's a must-watch.

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