Hakeem Olajuwon is considered one of the greatest players of all time. Hakeem is the only player that could have been drafted ahead of Michael Jordan in 1984, with people still considering that the right decision at the time. But Olajuwon once attempted to emulate MJ but emulate his success off the court in the sneaker world.
During a 2013 interview, Hakeem Olajuwon spoke about his sneaker line, the DR34M Shake, and spoke highly of the product.
“I want to create the best shoe, so we use the best material. That’s why we give them the Italian leather where it’s truly (a) fashion shoe but it is functional on the court, also,” Hakeem said.
“This is the highest level of Italian leather that you can find in the market and that’s the same later we use for a shoe, for our ladies’ bags, the same leather. The true value of these shoes would be $500, like Gucci, Louis Vuitton. Gucci is strictly for fashion, I can have both combinations where it’s fashionable truly for fashion, and at the same time, you can play on it on the court.”
(From 2:04 mark)
Hakeem also noted earlier in the interview (1:40 mark): “I like to think of my brand as your talent. The market is dominated by Nike and Adidas. You may see 20, 30 pairs of Jordans, Adidas, Nike, but when you see ‘DR34M’, you see the uniqueness. So it’s not for the mass, it’s for all those people who are looking to be different.”
Hakeem’s Shoes Didn’t Take Off
Hakeem Olajuwon’s DR34M Shake shoes, unfortunately, didn’t reach the heights Hakeem would have hoped for. While the shoes were not bad by any stretch of the imagination, the market was too crowded at the time with bigger brands with major stars endorsing them, like Nike and Adidas.
The shoes are no longer sold in stores, and the resale value for the shoes doesn’t go over $70, far less than the $500 valuation Hakeem tried to attach to it. Whereas, Michael Jordan earns 5% from each pair of shoes sold by the Jordan brand. This deal he negotiated when he first signed with Nike has allowed him to become a billionaire.
Michael Jordan’s sneakers, on the other hand, have gone on to become a cultural icon across the globe. In fact, a pair of Jordan’s sneakers which he wore during the iconic flu game, were recently put up for auction and expected to bring in more than $1 million.
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