MICHAEL JORDAN has his mum to thank for his £1BILLION Nike fortune – admitting he originally wanted to sign with adidas as a young basketball star.

During episode five of Netflix hit The Last Dance, the NBA legend revealed all about his early days breaking into the footwear business.

 Jordan revealed his parents helped him snub adidas and sign with Nike in a career-defining moment in 1984
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Jordan revealed his parents helped him snub adidas and sign with Nike in a career-defining moment in 1984
In 1984, Jordan – unthinkably, today – was adamant he wanted to team up with adidas.

But Jordan claimed his parents told him to entertain a meeting with Nike – and ultimately join them.

Jordan said: “My mother said, ‘You’re going to go listen. You may not like it, but you’re going to go listen.’

“She made me get on that plane and go listen.”

Nike offered Jordan a five-year deal worth £400,000, including his very own shoe – the now iconic Air Jordan.

FOOLISH

Adidas, conversely, were not willing to offer a young Jordan such luxuries.

And Jordan revealed his dad told him: “You’d have to be a fool, not taking this deal. This is the best deal.”

MJ, of course, would go on to sign with Nike and has since gone on to earn £1bn from the company.

His own Jordan brand is a subsidiary of Nike and arguably the biggest name in basketball footwear.

Incredibly, Nike were hoping to make £2.4million from Jordan’s custom shoe across the first three years of his five-year deal – a massive £2m profit.

 Michael Jordan went on to have a GOAT-level career in the NBA
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Michael Jordan went on to have a GOAT-level career in the NBACredit: AP:Associated Press