Michael Jordan has been the benchmark for athletic excellence for decades and many still consider him one of the greatest athletes of all time. His business success further sets him apart from the crowd. New York Yankees star Jazz Chisholm Jr., who is signed to Jordan Brand, shared a story about the six-time NBA champion, revealing that the legend didn't give the 10-year-old Jazz an autograph and instead gave him one posed a crucial challenge.

“Michael Jordan had a celebrity softball game in the Bahamas. I was ten years old and Jordan snuck out the back door. Your autograph, boy.' And just walks away.

“One of the most important things we worked on was getting that Jordan deal. I've already customized some painted Jordans waiting for them to hit the big leagues. After the season we started talking to Jordan because they saw it and they liked it. They told me: 'Try to sign a one-year contract somewhere else and then we'll see what we can do.'”

“I ended up signing a two-year deal with Nike, but then the Jordan deal came along and it was like nothing compares to that. So I have to tell him that because now that I'm a Jordan athlete, he has my autograph.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. became the New York Yankee in a trade in July 2024 and made an immediate impact on the franchise, hitting four home runs in his first three games and setting a franchise record as the first player to accomplish the feat. The Yankees are currently playing in the World Series of Baseball against the Los Angeles Dodgers with generational two-way star Shohei Ohtani.

Michael Jordan innovated how athletes could leverage their image and achievements for personal success when collaborating with major sportswear brands. Nike's success is inextricably linked to their belief in Jordan, as demonstrated not only by the creation of the Air Jordan shoe line, but also the Jordan brand.

Jordan Brand had revenue of $6.59 billion in fiscal 2023, which represented about 13% of Nike's sales in the same period. Michael Jordan is a billionaire because his basketball success came directly from off-the-court revenue when people bought his shoes in droves.

Now, Jordan Brand, as its own spin-off from Nike, empowers more athletes and creates financial opportunities for them. NBA superstars such as Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson, Paolo Banchero and many others are currently under contract with Jordan Brand.