Claim of Michael Jordan rejecting $10 million deal from Nike is false | Fact check

Gabrielle Settles, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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The claim: Michael Jordan rejected a $10 million deal with 'woke' Nike

A Jan. 8 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows a photo of former NBA star Michael Jordan alongside a photo of a Nike sportswear store.

"Michael Jordan Rejects Nike's $10 Million Deal Says 'I'm Not Saving Your Woke Brand,'" the text at the bottom of the image reads.

The post was shared more than 6,000 times in a week.

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Our rating: False

The claim originated on a satirical website that posts "fake news and absurdity." There’s no credible evidence of Jordan rejecting a deal with Nike.

Nike and Jordan: a partnership that goes back to 1984

The claim originated from an Oct. 3, 2023, story on Esspots, a site that publishes parody content. Its "About" page states it’s a subsidiary of the media site SpaceXMania.com, which is also known for satirical stories.

“Our team of writers and editors is dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest in fake news and absurdity, all with a healthy dose of humor and satire,” Esspots' "About" page reads.

The Facebook post does not indicate the story is satire.

The post is an example of what could be called “stolen satire,” where stories written as satire and presented that way originally are captured and reposted in a way that makes them appear to be legitimate news. As a result, readers of the second-generation post are misled, as was the case here.

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Nike has been criticized in previous years for its stance on social justice issues and partnerships with athletes such as Colin Kaepernick, a football player and social justice advocate. In April 2023, the company teamed up with trans activist Dylan Mulvaney to feature a new sports bra, which led to more criticism.

However, no credible news reports or sources show that Jordan has refused a deal with the sportswear company.

Jordan partnered with Nike in 1984 to create the brand's Air Jordan shoe, which was made and named for the then-NBA rookie. As portrayed in the 2023 film "Air," he signed a five-year, $2.5 million deal with the company that year.

Over the years, the partnership has expanded to include more Jordan merchandise, and as of 2023, the former NBA star has earned an estimated $1.5 billion from the deal.

USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

AFP also debunked this claim.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michael Jordan did not reject $10 million Nike deal | Fact check