"They don't have any white in it" - When Michael Jordan revealed why NBA banned Nike 'Air Jordans'
Michael Jordan joined the NBA in 1984 and immediately became a star. A few months after the shooting guard was drafted by the Chicago Bulls, he signed a deal with Nike, which would change his life.
Thanks to his connection to Nike, Jordan became a billionaire. However, his road to stardom wasn't always easy. In fact, the NBA banned his first signature shoes with the footwear company.
Air Jordan 1 shoes were banned shortly after Jordan debuted them. The league also fined the Bulls star $5,000 every time he wore them, but that didn't happen frequently.
Michael Jordan revealed why NBA banned his signature shoes
Nike went all in on Michael Jordan, which turned out to be the right move. After 15 years in the NBA and six championship rings, Jordan is considered the greatest basketball player of all time.
The footwear company knew how much potential Jordan had, which is why he debuted his signature shoes in the 1984 preseason. However, the league banned these shoes, as they violated uniform rules.
In 1986, Jordan appeared on "Late Night with David Letterman" and revealed why the NBA didn't let him wear his shoes.
On this day in 1986, Michael Jordan was a guest on David Letterman where he spoke about the Air Jordan 1 and it being Banned https://t.co/Hf0lt41PGW
"They don't have any white in it," Jordan jokingly said when asked what rule his shoes violated. Well, neither does the NBA," Letterman responded before throwing away the Air Jordan 1 shoe.
Michael Jordan referred to the rule that required NBA players to wear shoes that were predominantly white. The rule was implemented to promote a professional and coordinated look on the court.
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Air Jordan 1 shoes had a black and red color scheme, violating the league's rules. Their bold colorway made the shoes stand out in contrast to other shoes, predominantly white, which was considered a distraction. The league banned these shoes, but Nike used the ban to promote them.
Interestingly, the situation has helped Nike, as Air Jordan 1s have become one of the most iconic shoes of all time. Jordan's shoe empire began with the banned shoe and is know worth billions of dollars in 2023.
To comply with the league's rules, the Chicago Bulls superstar began wearing white shoes. However, he wore the original black and red colorway in the 1985 Slam Dunk Contest.
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In 2018, the NBA completely abolished color restrictions on shoes, allowing players to express themselves on the court the way they wanted. Interestingly, the NBA has loosened its jersey rules as well.
In the past, home teams wore white uniforms, but that's no longer the case. Since Nike became the uniform and apparel maker for the NBA in 2017, there have been many new and unique jersey designs.