Michael Jordan became the face of the NBA and a global ambassador for basketball during the ’90s. Jordan’s exploits on the court and his growing influence outside it expanded the league’s horizons and brought the lion’s share of the NBA’s revenue. Even the game’s greats, such as Wilt Chamberlain, recognized MJ’s talent and contributions. In a 1997 appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Chamberlain admitted that Jordan deserved much more than the $33,140,000 salary he was getting at the time from the Bulls. Interestingly, this was the highest amount paid to an NBA athlete back then, which even exceeded the league’s salary cap.
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Chamberlain suggested that His Airness should receive 10% from every player’s contract for compensation. This would have been the best way to do justice to Jordan’s efforts and influence in making the NBA a globally recognized sport.
To this day, Wilt’s comments on Michael Jordan hold weight. Several NBA fans and analysts still consider Michael Jordan and other members of the Bulls dynasty to be severely underpaid by the management. Jordan only earned around $93,877,000 in his NBA career, which is relatively low compared to his global impact.
Wilt Chamberlain’s advocacy for the NBA to compensate Michael Jordan fairly resurfaces
Jordan became the highest-earning player in the late ’90s after returning from retirement in 1995. He was earning over $30,000,000, which in today’s terms, is a relatively small amount even after adjusting to inflation. Therefore, appearing on The Howard Stern Show, Wilt Chamberlain advocated for proper compensation for Jordan. Chamberlain said:
“I see Michael Jordan as this. I see all the money being paid for these guys are out there, you know. I think that Michael Jordan should get about ten percent of every guy’s contract. Because he’s made basketball exciting, I mean, what it is. And so many young guys, like this boy Iverson who comes out of Philadelphia and says that he has no respect for anybody whatever, he should be taking his head off to Michael Jordan and staying there.”
◾️ Wilt says players of the 1990s should have given MJ 10% of their salaries for making the NBA what it was
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) July 24, 2023
Chamberlain’s comments recently resurfaced on the Internet and gained traction on social media. Michael Jordan earned a salary of $33,140,000 in the 1998 season.
If adjusted accordingly with today’s inflation, this amount would be around $62 million, which is more than any NBA player received in yearly salaries last season. However, Jordan’s impact in bringing in the league’s revenue share was in no way close to modern NBA stars.
Jordan had a major chunk of his income coming from off-court engagements
It’s interesting to note how Michael Jordan’s $2 billion net worth was an outcome of his off-court endorsements. Besides becoming the face of basketball, Jordan also became the face of the sporting brand Nike. His Air Jordan shoe deal from 1984 helped Nike reach the current status it enjoys today. The Jordan brand earns MJ significant royalties from profits, adding to his billion-dollar net worth.
Besides this, Michael Jordan has also invested in several other business engagements. Being a great golf enthusiast, Jordan’s investments in golfing circuits around the United States have paid off well. Furthermore, Jordan has invested in his own tequila brand, generating a significant profit. Therefore, the $93,877,000 Jordan earned from his NBA career is just a minuscule amount compared to his massive net worth today.
