Michael Jordan was the one true icon of the 1990s. There was no one bigger and perhaps his rise to stardom is what paved the way for modern-day sports superstars to do the same. It was during his time that the NBA was ready to offer up $100 million contracts. Even though he wasn’t the recipient of one, he was enticed by the idea. During his first retirement, he even hinted that his wife Juanita Vanoy, would probably pressure him to accept such a contract.
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Of course, at the time, and even today for that matter, 100 million Dollars is no joke. It is generational wealth. Even these days when a player nabs a contract worth 9 figures, it is considered to be game-changing. So it is no wonder that even a superstar like Jordan would be swayed by that idea.
His exit from the Chicago Bulls was brought about by a number of reasons. From the crippling pressure to continue winning to his father’s gruesome murder, Jordan was reaching breaking point.
But his love for the game never faded. And his stint with Birmingham Barons had left him jaded. Unfulfilled, he was loading up for round two. And with rumors of a potential 9-figure contract swirling, he knew even his wife would give him pressure to sign.
Michael Jordan alluded to pressure from Juanita Vanoy if a $100 million contract were on offer
Now, it goes without saying that a lot of the talk at the time was simply speculation. But to bring Jordan back to the league, a substantial contract had to be put on the table.
In 1995, when he was gearing up for his return, he was still under the same contract. He would be eligible for $3.85 million from the Bulls. But with salaries appreciating year over year, it was time for MJ to restructure his deal and command the money he deserved.
Rumors of a $100 million contract were there too and when he spoke to Sports Illustrated in 1995 about returning for that sum of money, he said, “My wife would make me“. Alluding to the fact that even his wife Juanita Vanoy, would probably pressure him to return, just for the money.
Michael Jordan’s reward was two massive contracts between 1996-1998
For the 1995-96 season, MJ stuck to his small deal. The NBA was rewarded massively with his return and he knew he was due for a raise. So, in terms of his contracts, for the 1996-1997 season, he signed a $30.14 million contract.
This deal made him the highest-paid player in the league. And then just a year later, Jordan signed a one-year deal worth $33.14 million for the 1997-1998 season. This made him the highest-paid player in the NBA at the time. A figure that remained the highest payout in a single year to any player till 2018!
It’s worth noting that Jordan’s salary had escalated significantly throughout his career. These contracts were a testament to Jordan’s immense popularity and the power he held.
