Michael Jordan remains one of the NBA greats that most would love to talk to. However, American rapper Jadakiss gives some tips on how anyone who comes across the Chicago Bulls’ legend can have a longer and sensible conversation.
Jadakiss shared a crazy story about the time he crossed paths with Jordan. He mentioned how the 6-time NBA champion would initially scan you from head to toe and see what kind of gear you have on when he spoke on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast.
“What you got on determines how many words you gonna get from him,” the 48-year-old rapper stated.
“If you got one of the competitors on, he might just give you an elbow or head. So if you got one of the competitors on, he might just give you a fist or elbow or head if you don’t got Jordan’s brand or Nike on. Nike is still going to get you like a short sentence. If you see the symbol, the conversation can be a little more extensive,” Jadakiss quipped.
Michael Jordan is brand-conscious
To prove his point, Jadakiss shared a story that backs up his claim on “His Airness.” He mentioned hearing that another rapper, Bow Wow, ended up getting his sneakers thrown into the garbage.
“I heard one time Bow Wow went to his crib; he threw his sneakers in the garbage. That’s how serious he takes it,” Jadakiss explained.
Being a businessman, it is understandable that Jordan takes pride in the products he handles. Hence, for anyone who may be lucky enough to have the chance to meet and talk to the 5-time NBA MVP, this is a tip that should come in handy.
Jordan has put brands on the map
Michael Jordan is a billionaire, and a large part of his wealth comes from his business and endorsement deals. Nike undoubtedly made it big when they got Jordan to sign with them, a huge investment that placed the shoe brand on the map.
Ironically, Adidas had the chance to sign Jordan, but the company didn’t think he was that worth it. Jordan admitted that he was leaning toward an Adidas deal but on the premise they could offer him something similar or better to what Nike offered.
“I went back to Adidas and said look, this is the Nike contract; if you come anywhere close, I’ll sign with you guys. Anywhere close to what they were putting on the table. But at that time, Adidas was a European brand that really didn’t make a strong push for the United States, and they didn’t feel that it was worth it, which, in hindsight, was perfect for me because it made my decision much easier, and I ended up with Nike. From that point on, the relationship just started to blossom,” Jordan recalled.
As most know, that Jordan-Nike deal just got off the rails. Adidas tried to keep in step by getting Kobe Bryant (Kobe was with Adidas until 2003) and Derrick Rose as endorsers. Unfortunately, Nike has been way out of reach since that monumental deal back in 1984.