How One of The GOAT Brands Almost Didn't Happen
A story of how one of the strongest brands every created almost didn't happen because it was being overlooked.
Michael Jordan. A name known internationally for both his legendary performance in the basketball world, but as well as his exclusive “Air Jordan” shoes that sell out in minutes. A man who has become a living legend and who has earned his title of being the G.O.A.T.
David Falk. A name that goes widely unknown. A behind the scenes guy, the puppet string-mover, the success-maker, Michael Jordan’s career long-agent.
If you ever heard the question, “Who was more responsible for Michael Jordan’s career success?”, what would you say?
We’re sure you’d say MJ, and with some reason too. He showed up to the court, he left his blood sweat and tears while playing, he became the greatest basketball player of all time through his dedication and grit. However, business wise, David Falk wins by a million.
Let me explain. When Jordan was growing tremendously on the court, his business side was also sparking attention. He was getting multiple offers from a variety of brands to work together. Did you happen to know Air Jordans are a Nike brand? This brand would have never happened if it weren’t for David Falk.
You see, MJ had his mind on signing with Adidas or Converse and to be frank, Jordan had absolutely no interest in a deal with Nike. If anything, we’d be wearing Jordan Converse if the choice would have been Jordan’s. However, Falk had a long-time connection with Nike, and they had a presentation ready for MJ to start his own collection. Funny enough, David Falk had to beg MJ’s mother to convince him to go to the meeting because Jordan had no excitement towards a collection with Nike.
After much begging, Jordan and Falk hopped on a plane and headed to Nike headquarters. There, they were greeted with a faulty tape and a late executive (not too promising) and Jordan’s face showed nothing but displeasure. Once things started flowing, they gave a successful presentation showing the collection ideas, Jordan’s highlights, and some of his favorite cars that ended up winning over MJ.
If Falk getting Jordan his deal with Nike wasn’t enough, guess who came up with the signature “Air Jordan” name? You guessed it: David Falk.
Sometimes, no matter how good an athlete is, a powerful agent can always push them into the next level of success. Here at Jersey Sponsor we’re also ready to bring you much closer to the matches and network that you may be overlooking.