Michael Jordan is a trendsetter for the NBA in so many ways. Many of the things he did, whether it be on the court or off the court, have become common practices in the NBA today. Many of the players playing in the league today having grown up wanting to ‘be like Mike’.
Jordan was in the league between 1984 and 1998, and then again between 2001 and 2003. During that time, he was without a doubt, the most popular player in the league, and became a global icon. Jordan’s presence was critical for the NBA, as it experienced its biggest growth in worldwide popularity during Jordan’s playing days.
Perhaps Jordan’s biggest influence can be felt with his shoes. Jordan got a signature shoe deal from Nike even before entering the NBA. He signed a $500,000 contract over 5 years with Nike on the day of his debut. From there, the Jordans became arguably the most iconic shoe in the history of the league.
In fact, MJ’s first-worn pair of Jordans from his debut recently sold for a whopping $1.5 million at an auction. But shoes aren’t the only area where Jordan had an influence. He played a huge role in the NBA bringing out long shorts into the league, and apparently, it was for a very specific reason.
Michael Jordan approached Champion, the brand that designed the uniforms for the NBA at the time, and asked them to make longer basketball shorts. This was because he needed to hold on to his shorts when he was out of breath after running and expending a lot of energy during the course of the game.
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While this may have been an odd reason, it makes a lot of sense in hindsight. Basketball players expend a lot of energy running up and down the court. And when they’re trying to catch their breath, holding on to their shorts allows them to have leverage and not all down because of the lack of equilibrium.
Regardless of the reason, Champion brought out longer shorts, and they are still a staple of basketball to this day. Almost every uniform in the league now has longer basketball shorts, and it all boils down to a request that MJ made during his career.
