The All-Star Games
Possibly the greatest NBA All-Star Game of all time was MJ’s last in 1998 when he battled a young kid by the name of Kobe Bryant. But it’s also worth mentioning that the Columbia 11s game in 1996 and the 2003 game, where he battled Kobe again (this time as a Wizard) were also incredible to watch as sneaker fans.
The Flu Game
While “The Flu Game” isn’t the only flu game Michael Jordan had (remember how he earned his 20,000th point?). It is easily one of the most memorable moments of his career.
The Rings
Not only would there be no “second 3-peat” but the shoes that were inspired by those championships would be no more. While most of us might not miss the Jordan 6 Rings, the signature Jordans that received colorways inspired by the fourth, fifth and sixth championships (like the first Defining Moments Pack or these incredible Jordan 11s) it would cause tears for some.
Jordan Brand Would Not Exist
According to Forbes, in 2014 Jordan Brand accounted for 58% of the market share when it came to basketball shoes sold in the US. It’s almost impossible to think about what sneakers would look like if $2.6 billion dollars worth of Jordans weren’t flooding Instagram daily. Crazy to think that MJ made more money in 2014 than all of his playing career combined.
Nick Engvall
Aaron Nojima