What if Michael Jordan Chose adidas Instead of Nike?
February 5th, 2013 by John K. | 24 comments
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Michael Jordan’s influence on the sneaker game can’t be put into words, can it? It’s easier (and somewhat accurate) to state that MJ is the sneaker game, and with his running mate Tinker Hatfield, the architect behind the greatest Air Jordans sneakers of all-time, the two have created a massive cultural phenomenon nearly thirty years after the first Air Jordan shoe. Of course, all of this might not have happened. There was, in fact, a bidding war between Nike and adidas when Jordan was about to enter the league, and had the coin dropped on the other side, the landscape of footwear might have been – correction – would have been a completely alternate universe of style. Sneaker Freaker plays devils advocate in the matter and lays out a possible scenario had Jordan selected three stripes instead of one bellied Swoosh, so be sure to check out Sneaker Freaker for the entire article.
I think about this all the time... Awesome job to whoever did the art work for this article
Wow I kid u not, I was thinking about this exact idea earlier today! Crazy! Very interesting story, kinda reminds me of the Marvel "What If?" books lol
I wanna be I wanna be like Mike! Lol
wow i seriously hate everybody. i think the sneaker community might just be one of the dumbest ones. first of all, since when do ANY of you know the first thing about journalism? second of all, this is a really interesting question. we're talking about a decision that, had it gone the other way, would have altered the shoe game that all of you are so interested in immeasurably. kill yourselves.
@isAisAisA kill ourselves? Getting on a computer talking wreckless makes you...? We love Shoes and we come from different walks of life, Who are you to judge and speak to us like you are better!
you guys say its a bad article, but it was a big debate back in the 80's. Go read Michael Jordan book, "Driven from Within." MJ himself said that he didnt like Nike and was a big Adidas fan. MJ wanted to sign with Adidas. He even talked about how he HATED the look of the Air Jordans I & II. He was inches away from ended his contract with Nike and signing with Adidas when Tinker walked in a meeting and show him the Air Jordan III with the Jumpman logo and elephant print. And THATS what made MJ change his mind and resign with Nike. It was the Air Jordan III's that created the NIKE AIR JORDAN movement and legacy. TRUE STORY!!!!!!
Would have been interesting but we will never know.
All ready read this article. It's a pretty interesting read, for us sneaker lovers anyway. Some people commenting here must not be into sneakers much... which makes it weird that they are even here then in the first place. lol. LOVE that trefoil logo. Super dope.
What if money grew on trees? Why is an orange called an orange, but a lemon is a lemon, NOT a yellow? Why does 7-11 have locks if they're open 24 hours a day. What if Adam never ate that fucken apple? Lol. What if we all SHIT out of our mouths, and talked out of our asses? Or do we already? WHAT IF.......?
@Cop em and Rock em it was Eve who ate the apple. but good point :)
@DamnYoToesTasteGoodAsFuk Oops hahahahah. Thanks man. Btw, your name,...is Off the hook playa. Lol. You're hilarious.
Fuck off John K., this is some dumb irrelevant shit here. It's like saying, "What if YOUR girl, left YOU for a donkey?" Lol, I'm sorry but NOBODY would give a fuck! Lol. Hahahahah. My bad. I'm on one at the moment.
aj is nike tho
Who gives a fuck? Really.....who? Anyone?....
@Cop em and Rock em exactly. thank you. who gives a shit about this. what a dumb hype article.
@solidsnake Feel me? This dude needs to get fired. Quick!
that air jordan 1 adidas is ugly as fuck
Ok.. that Air Jordan 1 with Adidas logo is dumb as fuckk.
Obviously the design would be WAY different.
Journalists are stupid as fuck now a days...
@daniners49 couldnt have said it better my self. you can't even call this journalism. never in my life have i walked around at a sneakercon asking people "what if MJ signed with adidas?" who gives a fuck?
MJ wanted to go to Adidas, it was what he wore in high school. He told Nike he would only sign with them if they bought him a certain car (I can't remember which) assuming they wouldn't buy it. Nike did end up buying the car and Jordan signed with them, I believe a three year contract, and had it not been for the success of the AJ3, he would left and joined the Adidas team.
The way the man himself tells it is Adidas was no longer interested once the price got to a certain height. So it never would have happened.
boring