"Magic should have had that way before me" - Michael Jordan on the origin of Magic Johnson's jealousy toward him
Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson shaped basketball history in different but equally powerful ways.
Magic was the trailblazer, the first NBA star to turn endorsement deals into serious cash. He signed with Converse, helped launch the sport's global appeal and became one of the richest athletes of the 1980s.
"He comes in and got all the endorsement deals," Johnson said, remembering Jordan's volcanic rise. He knew that the crown could have been his first.
Then Jordan arrived and rewrote the rules on athlete endorsements. His 1984 Nike deal changed everything.
The Air Jordan line created a cultural phenomenon that still drives billions in revenue today. He landed huge contracts with McDonald's, Gatorade, Hanes and more, making him the highest-paid athlete off the court for years.
"Magic Johnson should have had that way before me," Jordan divulged. "His personality, his persona, and I think that's where the jealousy grew between me and him."
Jealousy on both sides
Yes, the Los Angeles Lakers icon is known for his charming smile and pearly white teeth. But Johnson was honest about how he felt watching the young guard from the South launchpad to the top.
"Yes, I was mad. Yes, I was jealous," he said flatly. "Yeah! I'm a competitor, I'mma be mad."
It's no surprise. Magic was a winner on the court with five NBA titles and three Finals MVPs before Jordan's Chicago Bulls ever reached the Finals. Yet Jordan's rapid rise as a branding powerhouse threatened Magic's standing off the court.
Jordan didn't deny the jealousy but pointed out what truly mattered to him: championships.
"I may have my McDonald's commercial, Jordan brand, you know, blah-blah-blah," he said, "but in terms of winning, which is to me what the most important part about [playing the game] is, he had that, and he had that."
Jordan's six NBA titles and five Finals MVPs backed up his hunger for winning. That hunger created the fiercest rivalry of the era. Magic's Showtime Lakers defined basketball style in the 1980s. Jordan's Bulls dominated the 1990s with defense and clutch scoring. The competition fueled their greatness, but their battles extended beyond the court.
As Jordan's endorsements grew, the focus shifted to who controlled the narrative — and the paycheck.Changing the game
Before Jordan, athlete endorsements were modest. Players like Julius Erving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had deals, but nothing close to what Magic or Jordan would command. Johnson was a pioneer, but Jordan made athlete branding a global business.
Air Jordan sneakers are still some of the highest-selling shoes worldwide decades later. That impact redefined sports marketing and athlete influence.
Their rivalry exposed how money and legacy collide. Johnson had the titles and charisma that made him a legend. Jordan combined winning with business savvy to become a cultural icon.
Jordan summarized it best that endorsement deals might make rivals jealous, but rings are what count. Money can make you famous, but championships build immortality.
Magic got the money first, Michael got the glory, and both defined what greatness means.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
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