Are Jordans Nike?

YES.

It's hard to believe but we just stumbled across the fact that "are Jordans Nike" was the 7th most asked question in Google in 2018. So, if you are one of the 450,000 that searched for it, we've got you covered.

To understand how Nike and Jordan Brand are interconnected, you have to go back in time to look at the history of Michael Jordan.

Historically, you would think Michael has always been about the Swoosh, but Michael Jordan was a 3-Stripes guy. What sounds out of this world today, is a mind-blowing fact, and Michael and his family were just waiting for a call from Germany that never came.

adidas was at a bad place management-wise after Adi Dassler passed away, and tension was high. Negotiations ended early with Michael when he asked them to match the Nike offer, leaving Michael Jordan disappointed. As it turns out, 30+ years later (and $1.85 billion) we know he did the right thing.

After teetering back and forth, Michael Jordan signed with Nike in 1984 for 5 years and $2.5 million, plus royalties (Five cent per net wholesale of every Air Jordan pair). A ridiculous amount of money worth drooling over back then even without adding the two Mercedes Benz cars rumoured to be part of the deal (MJ is a car nut).

Following on the successes of his first Air Jordan sneaker and $100 million in revenue at the end of 1985 (the shoes released in March), it was evident, MJ was a full-blown smash hit.

Continuing the success of Michael Jordan's brand and exploding sales in the early and mid-90s, Nike Inc. made Jordan Brand (or Brand Jordan, as it was called in the beginning) a subsidiary in 1997, which it is until today – it's the fastest-growing line for Nike and arguably the most legendary. As an affiliate brand and Nike owning Jordan Brand, all logos and brand identities, such as the Jumpman and Wings logo, fall under the wings of the Swoosh.

Fun fact to round it up, the infamous Jumpman logo is inspired by a picture where Michael Jordan is wearing a pair of New Balance sneakers – now that's some piece of history right there.

So, "Are Jordans Nike?" The answer is yes.