Stand-up comedian Aries Spears reckons Michael Jordan kicked open the door for Black athletes to secure massive NBA deals. Jordan’s deal with Nike was a game-changer for the sport and played a key role in revolutionizing sponsorship deal not only in Basketball but also other sports.
In 1984, Michael Jordan signed a five-year, $2.5 million deal with Nike that is considered the source of his wealth and has made him a billionaire. In addition to the salary, Jordan received 25% royalties on all shoes sold with his likeness. Air Jordan has been a huge success and the shoes went on to rock the sporting industry.
“It always kills me when people go, ‘Man, Michael Jordan don’t do sh*t for Black people.’ Did he not make it possible for all these young Black men in the NBA to now get the endorsements that they get? He kicked open the door. Isiah Thomas, as much as he doesn’t like Jordan, he said that. Michael Jordan has kicked open the door for all these young Black a** athletes to now make the money that they’re making in endorsements,” Spears said on VladTV.
“He did do something for Black people. He didn’t do what you thought he should have done or would have wanted him to do. But his success is the biggest contribution to all these young Black athletes today.”
On the other hand, sports historian Johnny Smith opened up on Michael Jordan, for not being a civil right figure. Smith said Jordan wouldn’t have made such a fortune had he been a spokesman.
“I would argue that had he been an outspoken civil rights figure in the 1980s and 1990s, a much more conservative time than we are living in now, he would not have had the same access to becoming a spokesman, and he wouldn’t have been able to build the incredible wealth that allowed him to become a pioneer as a team owner and part of the sports ruling class,” Smith said. [H/T Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts]
