A Michael Jordan-signed sneaker isn’t just a collector’s dream, it’s practically a piece of basketball history. And MJ has also been famously selective about who gets his signature. He has reserved it for close friends, former teammates, or people he genuinely respects. Yet Ray Allen, his regular golfing partner, doesn’t have one, the Hall of Famer revealed on the latest episode of the Dan Patrick Show.
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We all know that MJ is an avid golfer. So if anyone who joins him on the greens is almost automatically a part of his inner circle. Allen is not just the Chicago Bulls legend’s tee-off buddy, but one of his most fervent GOAT supporters. This, despite being LeBron James’ ex-teammate.
“MJ, all day long, only because of how I played against him. MJ just had everything… and he could score and dominate in each position,” he had once said. But despite this, and the golfing connection, Allen doesn’t have a signed Jordan shoe. Dan Patrick wanted to know why.
The conversation began when the host noticed that Allen had a wall behind him that was stacked with sneakers. “Mike signed any shoes that you have?” Patrick asked. The 49-year-old replied he didn’t before revealing the reason.
“I haven’t [asked him]. Like, I have a jersey that’s up on my wall, I play golf with him regularly. I wouldn’t ask him, but I think at some point I should in the future, just for keepsake, just to have a memento,” said the Hall of Famer.
Allen added that he is sure MJ wouldn’t decline his request if he asked him. That confidence stems from a past incident.
Allen once borrowed shoes from Jordan
During the conversation with Patrick, Allen recalled an interesting story from his third year in the league, when he used to play for the Milwaukee Bucks. He had a game against the Bulls at the United Center, and it was his habit to reach the facility early.
Unfortunately, he went there too early, and none of his gear, including shoes, was available for him to practice. Someone from the Bulls management came to his locker room and told him that MJ is on the other side and if he wants something to get started, he should go and ask him.
After hesitating to go ask MJ for shoes, Allen decided it was better than wasting time.
He said, “I went in there and I was like, ‘Mike, you think I could borrow a pair of shoes?’ And I’m already wearing the shoes anyway, I’m under contract. And he’s like, ‘Sure, kid. In the hall’.”
Allen walked in, picked a pair of Jordans for himself, and went to practice.
