The "Jumpman" logo is owned by Nike to promote the Air Jordan brand of basketball sneakers and other sportswear. It is a silhouette of former NBA player and current Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan.
Air Jordan is a line of basketball shoes produced by Nike, Inc. Related apparel and accessories are marketed under Jordan Brand.
Air Jordan is the brand. Jumpman is the mascot of the brand, like the nike swoosh.
In the real Air Jordan sneaker model, the Jumpman logo is high-quality and present in an embroidered pattern, whereas in the fake Air Jordan sneaker model, the logo is vinyl or poor embroidery. The "Jumpman" logo is usually present upon the tongue of the sneakers.
He played fifteen seasons in the NBA, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan is the principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets of the NBA and of 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Ever since the initial release in 1984, the Air Jordan and its related products have expanded Nike's domain and continues to define the modern basketball and sneaker culture we know today.
It is only fair that they reward him handsomely for the same. According to Centuro Global, Michael Jordan had earned $1.3 Billion from Nike up until 2020. That number has grown a lot in the last three years. The Jordan Brand earned a revenue of $3.609 Billion in 2020, $4.711 Billion in 2021, and $5.122 Billion in 2022.
Jordan Brand was trying to differentiate itself from the rest of Nike's products in 1997. Thus, it began using the Jumpman logo on every sneaker. This includes retros of original colorways.
The emblem is called “Jumpman” and is a stylized image of Michael Jordan in Nike sneakers. The nickname of the logo is given specifically because it means “jumping person.” Now it can be seen on almost all branded products. The athlete is captured at the time of the historic leap at one of the decisive matches.
It was in preparations for the Games that Michael Jordan did a photoshoot while wearing New Balance basketball shoes that he was first photographed doing what would later be known as the Jumpman pose which was done for LIFE Magazine preceding the Olympics.
At the time when Nike and Michael Jordan signed the contract, competitor adidas was still 50% larger by revenue than Nike. In 2021, the Jordan Brand generated a revenue of $4.711 billion. This means that in 2021, the Jordan Brand accounted for 13.17% of Nike's wholesale revenues.
Michael Jordan had never even worn a Nike shoe at the time but was convinced by his parents to take the deal over Adidas, commencing the legendary partnership between Michael Jordan and Nike. The Air Jordan was born and the rest is history.
The Jumpman did not become the logo of the Jordan Brand until the Air Jordan III. The first Air Jordan logo was the Wings logo. It was designed by Peter Moore and Bruce Kilgore. The Wings were present on the Air Jordan 1 & 2.
Now in its sixth decade, Nike owns a multitude of world-famous brands such as Nike Pro, Nike Golf, Nike+, Air Force 1, Air Jordan, Air Max, Nike Blazers, Nike Dunk, Nike Skateboarding and Nike CR7. It also owns subsidiaries such as Brand Jordan, Converse and Hurley International.
Through his investments and proper money management, he has become one of the wealthiest athletes on the planet. He also owns the majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets, as well as a sizable percentage his personal brand under Nike, the Jordan Brand.
Nike, Inc. is owned by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. Founded in 1964, it is an American multinational corporation that manufactures and sells clothing, footwear, and accessories. Currently, John Hoke serves as the company president and CEO.
The Jordan III's, released in 1988, were the first to feature the Jumpman logo, that indelible silhouette of Jordan reaching for a slam-dunk, and came with sleek tumbled leather and elephant-print trim around the toe and heel. It didn't look like a shoe you'd wear to the gym; it was a luxury item.
Instead, it was a ballet move that MJ did for a photoshoot way back. Now, it can be revealed: Michael Jordan's $5.2 billion worth Jumpman logo wasn't derived from a basketball move.
Check the proportions of the Jumpman logo.
The logo should appear crisp and uncompromised. Look at the hands, basketball and feet to ensure everything looks properly proportioned. Nothing should look blurry or smudged. Fake Jordans may have an uneven or lumpy Jumpman, with poor stitching and unusual proportions.
In 1987 Nike created the “Jumpman logo” which is still used as a logo on shoes and all kinds of sporting gear until today and has become one of Nike's most well-known trademarks.
OG: OG is probably one of those sneaker terms you have heard before, it stands for “Original” – although, as aforementioned, it once stood for “Original Gangster.” The term OG may be used to refer to the earliest release of a silhouette, a classic colorway, or a faithful reissue.
While similar to their general release counterparts, player exclusive shoes are distinguished with unique colorways and designs that aren't available to the public. These hard-to-find collectibles are rare for a reason. Given only to players, coaches and staff, PE shoes rarely make it to the resale market.
He made less than $100 million as the NBA's greatest player of all time, but that hasn't stopped him from becoming a billionaire with an estimated net worth of $2 billion. Jordan was the world's first athlete billionaire.
The NBA sent a letter to Nike, stating “the red and black basketball shoes” violated league policy, incurring a $5,000 per game fine. The NBA policy was that “shoes had to be 51% white and in accordance with what the rest of the team was wearing.” Nike welcomed the controversy, agreeing to pay each fine.
Sonny Vaccaro's story
Back in 1984, Vaccaro convinced Nike to reach a deal with NBA rookie, Jordan. They offered him a 15-million dollar, five-year contract and created the now iconic 'Air' Jordan brand. "Signing with Jordan was the best decision I've ever made in my life," noted Knight.