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LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 26: NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and co-owner of 23XI Racing looks on from the 23XI Racing pit box prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Pocono Organics CBD 325 at Pocono Raceway on June 26, 2021 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

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LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 26: NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and co-owner of 23XI Racing looks on from the 23XI Racing pit box prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Pocono Organics CBD 325 at Pocono Raceway on June 26, 2021 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
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.
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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.“
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.

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INGLEWOOD, CA- JUNE 12: Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls celebrates following Game Five of the 1991 NBA Finals on June 12, 1991, at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1991 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
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.
READ MORE: Hall of Famer Mitch Richmond: ‘If You Didn’t Make Michael Jordan Work, He Was Gonna Embarrass You’
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%.
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.
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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.
WATCH THIS STORY: Heres How LeBron James, Russell Westbrook & Other NBA Players Chose to Celebrate Thanksgiving in the Past Few Years
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