We already learned from the exceptional 10-part ESPN x Netflix documentary that Michael Jordan’s mother, Deloris, was the main reason he even took a meeting with Nike, ultimately signing with the brand and luring him away from adidas.
ESPN’s Wright Thompson writes that James was the reason Jordan re-upped with Nike in 1988 while MJ was searching for a potential new landing spot for his greatness.
Nike’s CEO, Phil Knight, was confident that Jordan was going to leave the brand Hatfield told ESPN.
The potential “last meeting” between Jordan and Nike was packed with Knight, Hatfield, Jordan’s parents, agents, and Nike’s head of marketing all in attendance.
According to Thompson, James Jordan ripped into his son for being late and convinced him to stay by making the case that Nike showed commitment to him by waiting for hours to speak with him.
