At the time, Nike was a small unknown company in Portland. It was mainly an importer of shoes from Japan and just started creating their own shoes. It's not surprising that Magic passed on their offer. Converse was a much larger company at the time (funny enough, Nike would eventually acquire Converse.)
Yeah going with Converse back then was like going with Nike today. We would never think some other company would be bigger than Nike now, especially if you're going with a small start up vs an established company. Obviously though Magic wishes he had a time machine lol, but who knows, maybe Magic would have made Nike his shoe during the 80s and by the time Jordan came around he might look to sign with Adidas, you never know what kind of butterfly effect it would create if Magic had a time machine and could start over.
It's why I say superstars should always give the smaller brands a go cause the smaller brands will do more for you, even do a clothing line cause you are their star and they will do anything to keep you happy Steph Curry with Under Armour LeMelo Ball with Pima Kareem with Adidas Shaq with Reebok Kawhi with New Balance Steph, especially cause he literally owns 3% of the entire company cause he took a chance on them and under Armour is considered the best when it comes to clothes
@@thespacesbetweenstudio3346 Even Jordan himself said he wanted to sign with Adidas initially. No one could have predicted the success of Jordan/Nike and impact it would have on the culture of sneakers.
Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley. But Magic and Larry Bird made Converse popular until the early 90’s. Nike became popular when the Bulls got their first three peat
@@temistogen I still think if Magic signed with Nike they would have gotten Jordan. Think about it and watch the movie Air. The whole reason for going after Michael was because they were struggling and fledgling in the basketball market. If they had Magic then the push for Mike and the creation of the Jordan 1 would not have existed and Jordan would have gone to Adidas his first choice.
That’s only assuming it becomes as popular as it did. A big reason for Nikes success was Michael Jordan, if let’s say magic went Nike and Mike later went adidas like he wanted, maybe adidas would be #1 everywhere like Nike is now.
I read Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. I do not recall him mentioning Magic. He does say the first NBA player they went after hard was Jordan...and it paid off.
@@captainvontrap7321 it means that every pair of shoes he sold he would keep that one dollar profit. Imagine if he sold 100,000 pairs or even more. The 100,000 stock option at the time was 18 cents each. This was more of a long term deal since Nike at the time were a unknown brand. Lets say if Magic signed with Nike and 46 years later he would sell all his 100,00 stocks. He would have been a millionaire or billionaire if he sold those stock options. Just do the math 100,000 times whatever Nike stocks is today.
But if Magic did sign with Nike they might’ve never signed with Jordan because Nike might think that they found their signature athlete in Magic and Nike wouldn’t have been as popular and the stocks won’t be as much.
The whole point is that Jordans were the hit, and Michael obviously helped carry that. But would the Magic shoe have sold as well? Moses Malone had signed too, but he is forgotten. So its possible that the same results for Nike do not happen
This is what sets MJ apart from the other athletes; he is a risk taker. Life without risk is worth nothing. I am 59 years old normal guy and I regret that I have not taken enough risk in my life. I hate being a normal guy.
I hear you wholeheartedly, but what would you say was the reason for your risk adverse-ness? Family commitments? Finance? Etc Im just curious as im a 45yo man, with an opportunity to start my own business, but with a wife and 5 kids to support, i feel as if my risk tolerance is now null and void. In my younger day, I would have jumped all over it and rolled the dice.
Magic wouldn’t have had the same impact. The way his career ended, would have ended that. Mike worked because he didn’t only sell a shoe…he sold a culture.
He may have regretted not going with Nike, but lets keep it real people; HE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE TO NIKE WHAT MJ DID!!! So, the regret ain't all that now...Converse got both Magic & Bird...and the NBA was rescued by these two brothas...meanwhile, all of us in the hood was sporting white and black Converse for better than 10 years...winners all 'round!!
After watching Affleck's interpretation of Phil Knight in AIR, I prefer this strange characterization. This dude was so interesting. Was it accurate? Probably not but who cares haha
The butterfly effect, if Magic signs with Nike, they wouldn't have gone all in with MJ & he would have signed with Adidas like he originally wanted, and Adidas would have been the top brand in basketball, buying Converse and everyone would be wearing Adidas not Nike Nike's basketball brand is the house MJ built, not magic
Magic spoke on this. He said the main reason he passed on Nike was because Phil was only offering him stock options and he had zero understanding how stocks worked. Meanwhile, Converse amd other companies were offering cash value contracts.
Aside from Magic getting HIV, the guy got fired from being a head coach and gm at the lakers. Guy was a great basketball player. But come on he was dumb on tv, also look up how he fire his flight attendant. You know that wasn’t cause he was late.
bums choose anything but nike and if you come talking to me with any of these other brands on your feet i ignore you adidas is for soccer and converse is dokie just in general argue if you want lmao but before you reply check your feet and closet and come correct . Side note if you also own under armor leave right now ...
At the time, Nike was a small unknown company in Portland. It was mainly an importer of shoes from Japan and just started creating their own shoes. It's not surprising that Magic passed on their offer. Converse was a much larger company at the time (funny enough, Nike would eventually acquire Converse.)
Converse was the shoe of the NBA then. It was the obvious choice back then.
Yeah going with Converse back then was like going with Nike today. We would never think some other company would be bigger than Nike now, especially if you're going with a small start up vs an established company. Obviously though Magic wishes he had a time machine lol, but who knows, maybe Magic would have made Nike his shoe during the 80s and by the time Jordan came around he might look to sign with Adidas, you never know what kind of butterfly effect it would create if Magic had a time machine and could start over.
It's why I say superstars should always give the smaller brands a go cause the smaller brands will do more for you, even do a clothing line cause you are their star and they will do anything to keep you happy
Steph Curry with Under Armour
LeMelo Ball with Pima
Kareem with Adidas
Shaq with Reebok
Kawhi with New Balance
Steph, especially cause he literally owns 3% of the entire company cause he took a chance on them and under Armour is considered the best when it comes to clothes
@@thespacesbetweenstudio3346
Even Jordan himself said he wanted to sign with Adidas initially. No one could have predicted the success of Jordan/Nike and impact it would have on the culture of sneakers.
Magic turned it down (and regrets it to this day). But 5 years later they found their partner (Michael Jordan) and the rest is history
Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley. But Magic and Larry Bird made Converse popular until the early 90’s. Nike became popular when the Bulls got their first three peat
@@mymagicisntgivingup5908what about Larry Johnson and the converse react grandma ma’s? They still retro his shoes today
I don’t think if Magic signed with Nike they would have had Jordan.
@@MrRudyc85 yeah that was my thought.
Honestly betting on himself was the whole thing. If he felt confident in himself at that time it's a no brainer
Had he taken the Nike deal it would have been worth 5.2 billion dollars to him today.
He says he still cries about not taking that deal.
Classic hindsight is 20/20!
Literally what the video said mate
It would be worth much more.
Jordan built it to 5 b.Magic would have added a few numbers
@@temistogen I still think if Magic signed with Nike they would have gotten Jordan. Think about it and watch the movie Air. The whole reason for going after Michael was because they were struggling and fledgling in the basketball market. If they had Magic then the push for Mike and the creation of the Jordan 1 would not have existed and Jordan would have gone to Adidas his first choice.
That’s only assuming it becomes as popular as it did. A big reason for Nikes success was Michael Jordan, if let’s say magic went Nike and Mike later went adidas like he wanted, maybe adidas would be #1 everywhere like Nike is now.
The Nike Magic line would have really been something..
People would still be buying them
His Converse deal was great, but his Nike deal would have been monumental.
That prototype sneaker 🔥🔥🔥
It's just a Nike Blazer High. I do appreciate they use a shoe that was aligned with Nike's history
But the Nike Magic 1 High does have a nice ring to it!
imagine a world that it wasn't about the jordan's it was about the magic's
I read Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. I do not recall him mentioning Magic. He does say the first NBA player they went after hard was Jordan...and it paid off.
Maybe it was one of his business partners who tried to approach Magic.
Stock options gives me chills!!!
What does tht mean?
@@captainvontrap7321 it means that every pair of shoes he sold he would keep that one dollar profit. Imagine if he sold 100,000 pairs or even more. The 100,000 stock option at the time was 18 cents each. This was more of a long term deal since Nike at the time were a unknown brand. Lets say if Magic signed with Nike and 46 years later he would sell all his 100,00 stocks. He would have been a millionaire or billionaire if he sold those stock options. Just do the math 100,000 times whatever Nike stocks is today.
God I miss this show!
michael jordan's edit at the end😂😭
But if Magic did sign with Nike they might’ve never signed with Jordan because Nike might think that they found their signature athlete in Magic and Nike wouldn’t have been as popular and the stocks won’t be as much.
Was looking for this comment lol
I think you wrong. I think them having magic would’ve helped them get Mike even easier
The whole point is that Jordans were the hit, and Michael obviously helped carry that. But would the Magic shoe have sold as well? Moses Malone had signed too, but he is forgotten. So its possible that the same results for Nike do not happen
This is what sets MJ apart from the other athletes; he is a risk taker. Life without risk is worth nothing. I am 59 years old normal guy and I regret that I have not taken enough risk in my life. I hate being a normal guy.
I hear you wholeheartedly, but what would you say was the reason for your risk adverse-ness? Family commitments? Finance? Etc
Im just curious as im a 45yo man, with an opportunity to start my own business, but with a wife and 5 kids to support, i feel as if my risk tolerance is now null and void. In my younger day, I would have jumped all over it and rolled the dice.
Magic wouldn’t have had the same impact. The way his career ended, would have ended that. Mike worked because he didn’t only sell a shoe…he sold a culture.
The Larry Bird parts were the best part of this!!!!
Not gonna lie the Nike magics go hard 🔥🔥
$1 per shoe plus stock options? Both Nike and Jordan struck gold when they partnered up.
He may have regretted not going with Nike, but lets keep it real people; HE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE TO NIKE WHAT MJ DID!!! So, the regret ain't all that now...Converse got both Magic & Bird...and the NBA was rescued by these two brothas...meanwhile, all of us in the hood was sporting white and black Converse for better than 10 years...winners all 'round!!
One of the biggest fumbles at the time but Magic didn’t know no better
Should have stayed in college another year to learn more about finances
After watching Affleck's interpretation of Phil Knight in AIR, I prefer this strange characterization. This dude was so interesting. Was it accurate? Probably not but who cares haha
Majic talks about how he didn't know what a stock was so didn't understand the deal and says he regrets it until this day
He looked closer to phil knight than Ben Affleck that's for damn sure lol
He’s like this weird blend of nerdy and charismatic that for some reason works??
Classic business tactic: get them to sign on the deal you want them to take by saying their rival already is committed to the deal.
The Phil Knight here looks way too nerdy. Like he never ran a mile in his life.
18 cents a share
Magic of hindsight 😎😎
The butterfly effect, if Magic signs with Nike, they wouldn't have gone all in with MJ & he would have signed with Adidas like he originally wanted, and Adidas would have been the top brand in basketball, buying Converse and everyone would be wearing Adidas not Nike
Nike's basketball brand is the house MJ built, not magic
Magic Johnson wallet hitting that Cuba gooding Jr from boyz n tha hood rn 😭😭😭
Still becoming a billionaire says a lot, there's not many whos made it to that status but him and Jordan have made it look easy.
Magic Johnson said he hate this documentary
so what ?
No lie those shoes were 🔥.
Magic chose being an employee over being a boss. He was probably gonna sell 100K pairs in Cali alone.
What does the real Phil Knight look like because this guy and Ben Affleck seem like opposite ends of the spectrum
In really life he looks like a skinny Bernie Mac
This is much closer to what Phil Knight actually looked like, hair and all. Ben Affleck just wanted to play him.
@@hoopandhands3328 bingo!👍
I don’t know of any Magic or Larry Bird sneakers
Then you’re too young.
@@irishgrlPretty much!
Converse I have a pair but I kept it in a container
What are you like 18?
Nike may not have been worth what it was today because they may not have felt the need to go after MJ at the time they did since they had Magic.
Magic is a billionaire so I believe he regrets it but not to the point that he is losing any sleep over it 😂
Thank god. The Jordans are a tad more lit.
Damn Magic😂😂😂
The deal would have been worth multiple billions of dollars now Not including the revenue sharing, oh my God.
I'm sure, at least as per this series' logic, Magic chose Converse over Nike just because Larry Bird had signed with Converse.
Magic spoke on this. He said the main reason he passed on Nike was because Phil was only offering him stock options and he had zero understanding how stocks worked. Meanwhile, Converse amd other companies were offering cash value contracts.
@@drestathagangsta8880 Good point. Plus how was Magic (or anyone) to know at that time what Nike would become?
Converse was a mistake. Adidas& Nike were best bet. And more support injury wise
They do phil knight so dirty here
the guy was more closer to phi knight than Ben Affleck
If he would’ve took that deal who knows nike probably would have seen no reason to go all in on Michael 🤷♂️
Magic couldve made Nike big that time but he chose other brands instead. Thats okay though since they got MJ and the rest is history.
He regrets not signing with Nike to this day.
Magic could have had shoes sells like Jordan if he accepted that Nike stock
This show got canceled too soon!!!!!
Big missed shot from the old man mj.
Aside from Magic getting HIV, the guy got fired from being a head coach and gm at the lakers. Guy was a great basketball player. But come on he was dumb on tv, also look up how he fire his flight attendant. You know that wasn’t cause he was late.
He should have went to Nike
He regrets it trust me he said so mama knows best ask MJ mom
He said as much on one of those late night shows. Can't remember who, and he repeated it on his Club Shay Shay interview as well.
MJ win over Magic lose
Johnson is a billionaire even without Nike. Never knew Phil Knight was such a fairy (Or is this program just making him seem like one?)!
nike magic's. sigh
Oo God he turned it down but the unlimited opportunity Nike got with mj they never would have got with magic.
MJ is Black Jesus
Horrible wigs
bums choose anything but nike and if you come talking to me with any of these other brands on your feet i ignore you adidas is for soccer
and converse is dokie just in general argue if you want lmao but before you reply check your feet and closet and come correct . Side note if you also own under armor leave right now ...
You are trolling, right? Under Armor was established in 1996. The events depicted in this clip took place in 1980
@@itsgoff doesn't make it cool sill guy get some swag
@@itsgoff Def a kid behind the screen