Matt Varga The dream of professional hoops naturally gravitates towards the NBA and traditional 5v5 play. Still, real fans know there’s a separate lane where the individually talented can carve out a legacy. Jordan Brand announced their fullest effort to foster one-on-one talent with their first under-18 mano-a-mano competition. Right on time, they’re continuing the series by kicking off the 2025 “The One” tournament, a 1v1 circuit for players 15 to 18.
As mentioned for last year’s edition, Beaverton imbues this initiative with Jordan’s winning legacy by evoking Mike’s childhood square-offs with his older brother as key events that helped foster his unyielding competitive spirit. Those aiming to emulate the GOAT in that way will be recruited from around the globe, beginning with a fixture amid the UK’s Hoopsfix All-Star Classic before continuing throughout locales like Beijing, Belgrade, Los Angeles, Manila, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. Those who stand out from the crowd in those initial rounds will fly to New York for play-in rounds, marching towards the August final in NYC where “The One” from the boys’ and girls’ crowds will be crowned.
In contrast to the stateside locale for this year’s, the inaugural “The One” tournament capped off with a Parisian finals round, no doubt scheduled in the French capital given the ongoing energy around the Olympics. Tatianna Griffin, age 14, and Steve Bah, age 17, took home the respective #1 spots, earning Jumpman sponsorships that include a spot in the upcoming Air Jordan 40 promotional effort. Jordan Brand hasn’t yet announced exactly what’s on the line for 2025, outside of the title of “The One,” but similar sponsorship opportunities are likely at the center of the grand prize package.
