As we’ve stated previously, Michael Jordan was fiercely loyal to Nike. He was so set on selling Jordan’s that he wore his red and black shoes during his games. According to the NBA dress code, this was a violation and he was fined every time he wore them.
![Fined For Wearing His Own Shoes Fined For Wearing His Own Shoes | Getty Images Photo by Joe Patronite/Allsport](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/106840/rid_fbf0c2b886a7819f8ace7c6675eb2345/GettyImages-72441558-crop-FactsAboutMichaelJordanThatllGetYouPumpedandMotivated-Michaeljordan.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
This was pocket change for him, and he willingly paid them each time he was fined. After all, he was one of the top paid athletes in the entire world.
He Was Rejected by Adidas
In today’s world, one cannot imagine a company who wouldn’t want to sponsor Michael Jordan. The Jordan brand is a multibillion-dollar company, all thanks to Nike. Adidas chose to not sponsor Jordan because they were only looking to sponsor athletes who were seven feet tall.
![He Was Rejected by Adidas He Was Rejected by Adidas | Getty Images Photo by Brendan Esposito/Fairfax Media](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/106840/rid_147a3b6bc73e67e5cce5f57cf2a80058/GettyImages-1079414460-crop-Facts-About-Michael-Jordan-Thatll-Get-You-Pumped-and-Motivated-Adidas.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Unfortunately, Jordan missed the mark by half a foot. This would be a decision that Adidas would later regret.
Air Jordan
In order to promote the Air Jordan brand shoes, Nike uses the “Jumpman” logo, which looks like Michael Jordan doing a slam dunk mid-air. However, the logo came about from a photo shoot for Life magazine in 1984.
![Air Jordan Air Jordan | Getty Images Photo by Don Juan Moore](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/106840/rid_5a5b89f879bc4f84b43dbe93c9a402b3/GettyImages-1095275296-Facts-About-Michael-Jordan-Thatll-Get-You-Pumped-and-Motivated-NIKE-Jumpman.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
Life had staged Jordan performing a ballet move called the “grand jete”, which imitates him going into the air. However, if you look at the logo and then watch Jordan dunk in real life, you’ll see that the two are very different.
Billion Dollar Brand
Michael Jordan collaborated to start his Air Jordan brand with Nike in 1985. It has become one of the most successful shoe lines there has ever been. So successful in fact that Jordan earns roughly $60 million a year from it.
![Billion Dollar Brand Billion Dollar Brand | Getty Images Photo by William Mancebo](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/106840/rid_e68ae58cc90a4d1efe536cff640931ba/GettyImages-469977421-Facts-About-Michael-Jordan-Thatll-Get-You-Pumped-and-Motivated-Air-Jordan-basketball-shoes-1024x825.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
The brand as a whole is said to be valued at over one billion dollars. Air Jordan has been around for over 30 years and is still popular as ever. Every time Jordan comes out with a new release, fans line up at the doors to get their hands on the new pair.
Before Space Jam
By reading the title you’re probably thinking that we’re referring the Space Jam but we’re not. Before that film came out, Michael Jordan himself was made into a cartoon. A show called ProStars aired for two years, which turned hi, Bo Jackson, and Wayne Gretzky into superhero cartoons.
![Before Space Jam Before Space Jam | Getty Images Photo by Jonathan Daniel /Allsport](/wp-content/uploads/cmg_images/106840/rid_b9d1d10f4bd2d06f46fd30647245bec3/GettyImages-379795-Facts-About-Michael-Jordan-Thatll-Get-You-Pumped-and-Motivated-Michael-Jordan-1024x680.jpg.pro-cmg.jpg)
The players did not voice their own characters, but they answered fan questions. Trying to find clips of the show would be hard to find today however, you may be able to find some on YouTube.