A definitive sign that an NBA player has truly arrived is the moment they earn their own signature shoe. And across the league’s long and colorful history, only a select few can claim such a distinction. LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are just a few names that come to mind.
However, before any of them were even thought of as future sneaker royalty, there was one man who paved the way for all of them: Michael Jordan. According to Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, who also once had a sneaker and apparel line with Nike, as great as it has been to have all these NBA icons’ signature lines run for so long, none of them have had the same impact as MJ’s
Everyone wants Jordans
In today’s NBA, Bryant’s sneaker line dominates the court, with nearly every other player sporting a pair. Yet, when viewed through a broader lens, Air Jordan has held a legendary status since their iconic debut in the 1980s.
“Everybody wanted Michael Jordan’s shoes. I told you, Michael Jordan made it cool,” Chuck stressed. “Michael Jordan is the only person in the history of sports, or let’s say the NBA, where everyone says, ‘I gotta have some of those.’”
Barkley surmised that today’s generation of signature athletes have incredible shoes that feature the latest bells and whistles. However, he argued that their sneaker lines just don’t have the heritage and prestige that Jordan’s do.
“LeBron’s a great player, I don’t know how his shoes are sellin’. Even Allen Iverson’s had great shoes, Kobe’s had shoes,” Chuck expressed. “But Michael Jordan is the only guy where everybody says I gotta have some of those.”
Jordan’s sneaker releases are events
In the ’80s, Converse tried to capitalize on the popularity of the NBA’s two most prominent players, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. And while the brand enjoyed some success, it didn’t reach the same level of success that Nike and Jordan did.
