"Jordan kicked open the door" - Aries Spears credits Michael Jordan for Black athletes securing massive NBA deals
Stand-up comedian Aries Spears credited Michael Jordan for helping NBA players get massive contracts. Spears is a huge fan of Jordan and has always considered him the greatest of all time. However, some people have called out MJ over the years for not helping the Black community.
In an appearance on VladTV recently, Spears went off on critics who claimed that the Chicago Bulls legend doesn't care about Black people. He pointed out that Jordan is the main reason why NBA players earn a lot more today compared to the previous generations.
"It always kills me when people go, 'Man, Michael Jordan don't do sh*t for Black people.' Did he not make it possible for all these young Black men in the NBA to now get the endorsements that they get? He kicked open the door. Isiah Thomas, as much as he doesn't like Jordan, he said that. Michael Jordan has kicked open the door for all these young Black a** athletes to now make the money that they're making in endorsements," Spears said.
The 49-year-old comic added:
"He did do something for Black people. He didn't do what you thought he should have done or would have wanted him to do. But his success is the biggest contribution to all these young Black athletes today."
Michael Jordan is one of the most influential players in NBA history. Jordan has turned into a mythological figure in sports while being a household name in pop culture due to his shoes. He's one of the main reasons why basketball became a global game, helping the NBA grow into what it is today.
The league's popularity is the reason why they got over-the-top broadcasting deals over the years, helping the players earn more money than any other sport. Jordan's endorsement deals also paved the way for how athletes negotiate terms due to his partnership with companies such as Nike, Coca-Cola, Hanes and Gatorade in his prime.
Sports historian on the effect of Michael Jordan not being a civil rights figure
Michael Jordan was not much of a civil rights advocate. He infamously said, "Republicans buy sneakers, too," and people also called him out for not strongly supporting the "Black Lives Matter" movement.
Sports historian Johnny Smith explained in his book that had Jordan been more outspoken during his playing days, he likely wouldn't have achieved the same financial success that helped make him the first Black majority owner of an NBA team.
"I would argue that had he been an outspoken civil rights figure in the 1980s and 1990s, a much more conservative time than we are living in now, he would not have had the same access to becoming a spokesman, and he wouldn't have been able to build the incredible wealth that allowed him to become a pioneer as a team owner and part of the sports ruling class," Smith said. [H/T Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts]
Jordan has remained out of the spotlight since retiring and even sold his majority shares of the Charlotte Hornets. He's been more focused on golf and his NASCAR team over the past few years.