Nike signed its first endorsement contract with Michael Jordan in 1984.
Jordan entered the NBA in 1984, and Nike pursued him aggressively even though he was not yet the established superstar he would become. The agreement helped produce the Air Jordan line, beginning with the Air Jordan 1 and developing into one of the most influential athlete-brand partnerships in sportswear history.
Jordan’s relationship with Nike is often simplified as beginning with the Air Jordan 1’s 1985 release. The contract came first, in 1984, while the shoe and broader marketing campaign followed. This distinction matters when separating the signing year from the product-launch year.
The partnership eventually led to Jordan Brand becoming a distinct Nike brand division in 1997. Its roots, however, are in the original 1984 endorsement agreement.