Air Jordan 1s, Air Jordan 4s, and so many more. We’re all familiar with Michael Jordan’s sneakers. But many people forget that there’s so much more to the man than his sneakers and his work with Nike. It can be easy to get caught up in the hype and not look into the details, but that’s why we’re here today to share some incredible insights into the life of Michael Jordan.
Here at Crepslocker we’re all huge MJ fans, it’s hard to deny simply how much influence the man has had on both popular and street culture. Join us as we take a deep dive into how Michael Jordan became the legend he is today, his net worth, and more.
The Rookie Years
Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, in February of 1963. While he was still young his parents made the move to North Carolina, where he remained for most of his early life, eventually attending the University of North Carolina in 1981. It was here that his penchant for the sport of basketball really began to show, with MJ leading the UNC team to win the national championships in 1982.
After being awarded player of the year in both his sophomore and junior years, MJ was eventually spotted by an NBA team in 1984 - none other than the Chicago Bulls. It wasn’t long before Jordan began dominating the league, achieving highest scorer status within his first season and also being named Rookie of the Year.
Signing to the Swoosh
Not long after Michael’s impressive NBA debut, footwear brands around the world rushed to sign a deal with the NBA’s latest starboy. While both Converse and adidas attempted to sign MJ, in the end it was Nike who prevailed, with Jordan rocking the Nike Air Ship before the Air Jordan 1 eventually released. Upon its initial release in the “Chicago” colourway, the AJ1 proved immensely popular, and remains a classic silhouette even today, with collaborators such as Off-White and Travis Scott using the model for their limited-edition offerings.
Michael Jordan’s partnership with Nike is ongoing even today, with the duo launching over 37 unique silhouettes in thousands of different colourways over the years. The working relationship between the two parties is widely-considered one of the greatest sports sneaker deals to have ever existed.
The NBA and Beyond
Throughout the majority of Jordan’s career he remained with the Chicago Bulls, with him and his fellow teammates going on to win six NBA championships over the years. He played alongside other Bulls legends Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman and was named the NBA’s MVP (most valuable player) five times throughout the course of his career. Basketball fans across the world widely consider this specific Bulls squad as one of the greatest NBA teams of all time.
In 1993 MJ briefly retired from the NBA, instead pursuing a career in minor league baseball and spending his free time playing golf (Nike has even offered multiple Jordan golf sneakers over the years). Jordan later returned to the Chicago Bulls until 1998 when he retired once again. September 2001 saw Jordan return to the NBA for the final time, playing for the Washington Wizards until 2003, when he finally hung up his court sneakers for good. Since then MJ has remained close to the sport and is still regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
What is Michael Jordan’s Net Worth?
Throughout his expansive professional career and through his ongoing partnership with Nike, it’s no surprise that Michael Jordan has amassed an impressive fortune. It’s also worth noting that Jordan has appeared in several movies over the years that he will earn royalties from (most notably Space Jam, which has its very own Air Jordan 11 colourway). He also starred in advertising campaigns from the likes of McDonalds, Gatorade and more throughout his NBA career.
But how much is Michael Jordan actually worth? Well, the latest figures show that MJ is worth an astonishing $3.5 billion dollars. That makes him the richest professional athlete ever, which is an impressive feat by anyone's standard. If you’re as much of a Jordan fan as we are, be sure to shop our entire Air Jordan range right here at Crepslocker.
While you’re with us, check out the rest of our site for all the latest sneaker and streetwear releases and stay locked in right here for more features!