Billion Dollar Company That Kobe Bryant Eventually Hated, Once Intended to Make Him the Next Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan’s NBA legacy is defined by his fierce competitiveness, hunger to excel, and the cultural shift he ushered in from the 80s to the 90s. His flair extended beyond the court as he became a global superstar. He was so influential that big brands utilized his name and promised to make young athletes the next Jordan. Adidas was this brand that lured in a teenage Kobe Bryant and pledged to turn him into the next Jordan.

Ronald Lazenby, a well-known sportswriter, appeared on the podcast “The Black and Blue Pod.” He shared a story about how Adidas let it be known that they are going to make Kobe the next Jordan.

“He (Kobe) was an unknown teenager when Adidas let it be known they were going to make him the next Jordan. They paid him a ton of money to turn pro. But besides all that, Kobe already had all of his organic competitive nature. Now you tell a 15-year-old kid he’s the next Jordan… He’s going to shave his head and start walking the walk and talking the talk.” 

Kobe Bryant’s history with Adidas

Adidas was floundering in the 1990s and lacked the financial might of cross-town competitor Nike. However, it required an influential player such as Michael Jordan, who turbocharged Nike’s sales in the late 80s and early 90s and helped propel the company to industry supremacy. Sonny Vaccaro chose Bryant as that transcendental player and projected he will be the next Jordan. It was a major gamble and not a sure bet.

Bryant intended to jump right from high school to the NBA, which was a risky decision in the first place. He wasn’t supposed to be a top selection, but he ended up going 13th overall. Vaccaro eventually pitched Kobe Bryant $1 million per year to wear Adidas footwear, and he accepted.

Bryant was with Adidas from 1996 until 2002. His breakup with Adidas was a significant media story because it became so contentious that he wanted to do nothing with them.

READ MORE: Angry Michael Jordan Stared at Celtics Legend for 15 Seconds Straight and NBA Veteran Was Forced to Step In: “He Don’t Know the Rules of the Game Mike, He Just a Young Fu*ker”

Marc J. Spears, an ESPN writer, once recounted an incident about Kobe Bryant declining to interview with him because he was dressed in Adidas gear. He agreed to let Spears interview him on the condition that he film himself, destroying his Adidas sweatsuit and sneakers following the interview.

Fair to say, Kobe wanted nothing to do with what he had already left behind. Bryant pulled out of his deal with Adidas in 2002 when the Kobe 2s flopped in sales. He apparently spent $8 million to opt out of his Adidas deal. The buyout came with the proviso that he cannot engage with another brand until 2003.

Bryant donned a variety of sneakers that year, including Nike, Reebok, AND1, and Converse. However, in June 2003, the superstar struck a four-year, $40 million deal with Nike. He stayed with the brand until his tragic death in 2020.

Kobe Bryant carved out his own niche, but he was the closest thing to Michael Jordan

Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Lakers, and the subtle artistic parallels between him and Michael Jordan were immediately apparent from that point on. Every kid back in the 90s wanted to be “Like Mike,” and Kobe was no different.

Jordan burst into the NBA like a whirlwind, displaying his extraordinary athleticism and steadily climbing to become one of the league’s premier scorers. Similarly, “Frobe” flourished initially in his career due to his exceptional athletic ability.

However, both athletes evolved with time. ” His Airness” honed one of the most lethal post-up games and fadeaway shots. Bryant’s fadeaway and post-footwork become just as dangerous.

WATCH THIS STORY: Michael Jordan Owns A NASCAR Team: How Did The Millionaire NBA Legend Come Around To Buying A Racing Team?

The parallels transcend to the competitive mentality and drive to succeed. Jordan and Bryant were unarguably two of the most aggressive competitors to ever touch the court. As a result, they are two of the league’s most illustrious winners.