How Michael Jordan Turned Basketball Shoe Collecting Into An Obsession
Air Jordans started as shoes for one NBA rookie. Four decades later, they are fashion pieces, collectibles and part of basketball culture.
Athletes World
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Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan sneakers transformed basketball shoes into cultural icons, sparking a global sneaker-collecting craze that reaches far beyond the court.
When the Air Jordan 1 reached stores in 1985, Nike was selling a basketball shoe tied to a rising NBA star. Four decades later, people still line up for new Jordans, hunt down old releases and collect pairs connected to an era they may not even remember.
Michael Jordan helped turn the basketball shoe into something worth owning even when you weren't playing basketball.
Nike had signed Jordan as a rookie in 1984 for a reported $500,000 per year over five years. The gamble paid off quickly. Nike sold about $70 million worth of Air Jordans in the shoe's first three months and roughly $126 million in its first year. (NBA.com)
Michael Jordan helped turn the basketball shoe into something worth owning even when you weren't playing basketball.
Nike had signed Jordan as a rookie in 1984 for a reported $500,000 per year over five years. The gamble paid off quickly. Nike sold about $70 million worth of Air Jordans in the shoe's first three months and roughly $126 million in its first year. (NBA.com)
