One of the biggest things to ever happen to Michael Jordan during his NBA career was signing with Nike. Even to this day, MJ always honors the Vice President of Nike, Mr. Howard White in every way imaginable. Jordan made sure White’s character was depicted in a recent movie release called AIR. It is safe to say that White played a part in Jordan’s rise to stardom. However, much like the GOAT, the mastermind behind Nike also had a brief, yet successful basketball career.
“I think that he was a unifying force in that movie… It’s always been my mission in life to keep people positive, for MJ, for Nike.” The real Howard White on @christuckerreal‘s performance in #AIRMovie https://t.co/Yqh0LR15Qz pic.twitter.com/O6yH8JROoM
— GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) April 12, 2023
As a child, Howard White was known as the king of the playground. He was a dedicated basketball player who was a part of his high school team. It is said that Howard was unguardable at times while he played for the Kecoughton High School team. White would’ve been Jordan’s senior at North Carolina back in the 1970s. However, he chose to commit to the University of Maryland. He would continue to be the star on the court as he earned himself a great reputation among recruits.
After winning a National Invitation Tournament, almost winning himself an NCAA Championship, and participating in the NBA for a bit, his career ended due to injuries. That’s when he decided to complete his education and join Nike. Basketball was never his life’s goal, but he used the sport to get him a degree and employment. He was hired by Nike and became a Field Representative for one-half of the country. That’s how he ended up finding Michael Jordan. White was eventually promoted to the Vice President position of Jordan Brand and he founded the “Believe to Achieve” movement for the youth.
Michael Jordan’s hunger caught Howard White’s eye
Soon after Michael Jordan was drafted into the league, several big named sports brands were eager to sign with him. The Chicago Bulls legend never once thought of Nike either. However, the company, Howard White, and representative Sonny Vaccaro went to great lengths to sign Jordan. White saw something in MJ that made him want to pursue the star even more.
“People need something to believe in. For me, that’s what MJ was. Principles, work ethic, belief. That’s not that hard to sell. And I think that’s what we did with this Jordan thing, we bottled it and sold it to the world,” he said. Jordan inked a deal that would become the greatest endorsement deal signed by any athlete, ever. His iconic shoes would become a fashion statement during the 90s and early 2000s. To this day, people love sporting a good pair of Jordans.
Mike went on to earn millions from his Nike deal and the brand itself is worth billions today. Jordan Brand has done several collaborations with famous artists and celebrities of today. Some pairs are worth over a thousand dollars. Howard made a great decision by pursuing Jordan. Mike has also been extremely grateful to the legend.
