Despite Michael Jordan’s ‘Obsession’ with $25.2 Billion Brand, David Falk Revealed Adidas Snubbed Bulls Legend’s Desire

Michael Jordan is one of the most iconic players in NBA history. And, one reason for his icon status is his partnership with Nike. The Air Jordan brand is one of the biggest in the world. However, it may have never been created if it weren’t for Adidas‘ decision to snub His Airness.

There can be no denying that Jordans are some of the most sought-after sneakers in the world. But, Nike was never really Michael’s first choice. In fact, in his college days, he was an Adidas man and was so obsessed, he even wore them during his practice sessions with the North Carolina Tar Heels.

So, when he was looking for a sneaker deal in 1984, the $25.5 billion brand was his first choice. However, the German apparel company had no interest in matching Nike’s offer, as MJ’s former agent David Falk revealed to SLAM.

Adidas had no interest in matching Nike’s offer for Michael Jordan

In 1984, Nike was looking to make a splash in the NBA market, and their target was Michael Jordan. Desperate to sign the man who is now widely considered the GOAT, the company offered Jordan a 5-year deal worth $500,000 per year. A huge deal, especially for an NBA athlete.

However, MJ only had Adidas on his mind. He was obsessed with the company and would get a steady supply from a friend of his who was a local rep in the southeast. He would even wear Converse shoes just for Tar Heels games and then remove them once he’d finished playing. Such was his love for the Three Stripes.

Luckily for Jordan, ProServ, the agency where his former agent David Falk worked had good contacts with Adidas. After all, they represented Adi Dassler’s son Horst. However, when Falk approached them for a deal, they showed little to no interest.

“They were just not in a position to execute a deal of that level—they told us that. The head of international marketing for Adidas said to me, ‘Hey, we really appreciate Michael’s interest. There is no way we could make this deal.'”

So, contrary to popular belief, there never really was any meeting between Michael and Adidas. And, a good thing too, given what happened between one of Jordan’s biggest fans, Kobe Bryant, and the German apparel giants.

MJ was lucky he signed with Nike, given what happened between Adidas and Kobe Bryant

Safe to say, signing with Nike was the best thing Michael Jordan did. After all, any potential deal with Adidas may not have gone as he would have hoped. Especially given what happened years later with Kobe Bryant, who paid $8 million just to get out of his deal with them in 2002.

Apparently, the Black Mamba had enough after the Adidas Kobe 2’s bombed in sales two years earlier. Bryant would then go on to sign with Nike, following in the footsteps of his idol.