Jordan Brand

Nike announced Wednesday that San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel has signed an endorsement contract with its Jordan Brand.

"To me, it's surreal and truly special to hear I'm joining the family," Samuel said. "As a kid, all I wanted were J's. Being a part of the Jordan Brand is something I've always wanted, and for it to be a reality is special to me. It's a dream come true to be a Jordan Brand athlete and help carry this legacy forward to the next generation on and off the field."

Samuel becomes the seventh NFL receiver to join Jumpman alongside Davante Adams, Chase Claypool, Stefon Diggs, Jarvis Landry, Sterling Shepard and Michael Thomas.

"I'm looking forward to inspiring the young football players and young kids out there who want to create greatness in their own way," the 2021 Pro Bowler said.

Nike said he was selected as someone who could uphold the Jordan Brand's "standard of excellence."

Samuel showcased game-changing versatility last season, tallying 1,770 yards from scrimmage (1,405 receiving and 365 rushing) and 14 total touchdowns across 16 appearances to earn a First-Team All-Pro selection.

The Niners rewarded his success with a three-year, $71.6 million contract extension in July.

"We are overjoyed to have come together with Deebo to keep him with the 49ers for years to come," general manager John Lynch said. "Deebo has the rare ability to not only play at a unique level but to inspire his teammates with the way he plays. He is a special player that embodies 'will meeting skill.' We're proud to move forward with him as an integral leader and foundational piece of our team."

Between the new contract and his endorsement deal with the Jordan Brand, it's been a successful couple of months for the 26-year-old South Carolina native.

Samuel, who's recorded 242 total yards in three games so far this season, and the Niners are back in action Monday night when they host the reigning Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium for a key NFC West clash.

Michael Jordan is listed at No. 1,931 on Forbes' list of the world's richest people in 2021, coming in with a net worth of $1.6 billion.

The majority of his net worth comes from his ownership of the Charlotte Hornets and his stake in the Jordan Brand, his world-renowned apparel brand he started with Nike.

The Hornets currently have a valuation of $1.5 billion after Jordan sold a minority stake in 2019. 

Forbes had Jordan's net worth listed at $2.1 billion last year. It is unclear what led to the $500 million drop.

While Jordan's wealth has expanded beyond anyone's wildest dreams from when he began his career, he ranks in the lower half of majority NBA governors. Los Angeles Clippers governor Steve Ballmer is the richest in the sport, with a valuation of $68.7 billion that ranks him 14th in the world. 

Joseph Tsai of the Brooklyn Nets ranks second with a net worth of $11.6 billion to place No. 189.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool is the latest athlete to ink an endorsement deal with the Jordan Brand, joining teammate Joe Haden among other players across the NFL and other professional leagues.

"There's a select few representing Jordan Brand in the league," he said. "When you look at the roster, those are the people killing it right now. So when you lace up those Jordans, you want to be at the same level as the other guys. It's a family environment, but you're also competing and trying to make each other better."

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams, of whom Claypool said he was a fan, is also sponsored by the Jordan Brand, as are NBA stars Zion Williamson and Luka Doncic. As for other NFL players, Stephon Gilmore, Dwayne Haskins Jr., Cam Jordan and Dont'a Hightower also represent the brand. 

Claypool concluded his rookie regular season with 873 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 62 receptions and then posted 59 yards and two touchdowns in the Steelers' playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns. 

A pair of Nike Air Jordan 1 High sneakers worn by Michael Jordan during a 1985 exhibition game in Italy sold for a record-setting $615,000 in a Christie's auction Thursday.

CNN's Rory Sullivan reported nine MJ collectibles sold for a combined $931,875 at the conclusion of a two-week bidding period, with the shoes making up a majority of that total.

"It is the top price achieved for sneakers at auction," a Christie's spokesperson said.

The item attracted added attention because the left shoe contains a shard of glass from when Jordan shattered the backboard with a dunk during the game, per Sullivan.

Jordan memorabilia prices have skyrocketed since ESPN aired the 10-part documentary The Last Dance in April and May, which helped provide a new generation with a closer look at arguably the greatest basketball player in history.

The previous record for a pair of sneakers was $560,000, a mark set in May for another pair of game-worn, autographed MJ shoes sported during his rookie season in the NBA.

Jordan, who was inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009, won six NBA championships and two Olympic gold medals during his playing career. His extensive list of accolades also includes five MVP trophies and 14 All-Star Game appearances.

The 57-year-old New York City native owns the Charlotte Hornets.

Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand announced its first partnerships for the $100 million pledge to fight systemic racism in the United States on Wednesday.

Jordan Brand will donate $1 million to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) and the Formerly Incarcerated & Convicted People and Families Movement (FICPFM) and $500,000 to Black Voters Matter.

The announcement included a statement from that Jordan that read:

"I’m all in with Jordan Brand, the Jordan family and our partners, who share a commitment to address the historical inequality that continues to plague Black communities in the U.S. There is a long history of oppression against Black Americans that holds us back from full participation in American society. We understand that one of the main ways we can change systemic racism is at the polls. We know it will take time for us to create the change we want to see, but we are working quickly to take action for the Black community’s voice to be heard."

Black Voters Matter works to increase ballot access, restore voting rights to people who were previously incarcerated and increase voter awareness in the Black community. 

The FICPFM works with people who were previously incarcerated to help restore their voting rights, get them re-acclimated into society and work within the community to reduce stigma against former felons.

Founded by Thurgood Marshall, the LDF "employs litigation, advocacy and public education to advance its mission to achieve racial justice, equality and an inclusive society."

Jordan and the Jordan Brand are set to donate $100 million to social justice causes over the next 10 years.

All 30 NBA teams will wear the most iconic logo in sports apparel next season.

Nike announced Tuesday that the Jordan Brand will appear on all 30 "Statement Edition" uniforms for the 2020-21 campaign: 

"Giving the brand a ubiquitous presence across the league, the logo will appear on the right shoulder of the jersey and left leg of the short for all 30 Statement Edition uniforms. Each season, the Statement Edition designs set the tone for key matchups and are inspired by NBA teams making a bold statement every time they step onto the court — a natural connection to Jordan Brand's namesake and his approach to the game."

A majority of NBA Statement uniforms will carry over from the 2019-20 season and substitute the existing Nike logo for the Jumpman insignia. The Atlanta Hawks, who introduced new uniforms Monday, are among the few teams making changes to their Statement uniforms.

The Charlotte Hornets, owned by Michael Jordan, have featured the Jumpman logo on their uniforms since Nike took over the NBA apparel deal in 2017. 

Jordan Brand was also featured on the last three All-Star Game jerseys.     

"We are the Jordan family, and in this family, no one flies alone." 

That is how Jordan Brand President Craig Williams ended his letter announcing the latest recipients of the Wings scholarship for the class of 2024. On Wednesday, Jordan Brand will provide four-year and full-ride scholarships to 32 students from New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Portland.

"I never thought I would have the opportunity to go anywhere I could imagine," Gionna Clift, one of the Jordan Wings scholars for 2024, said. "Without the financial burden, my possibilities are endless. I can focus on the other aspects of college life instead of worrying about how it will be paid for. This is something I only could imagine, and now that it has come true, it's almost unreal."

The announcement also included a video narrated by Jordan Brand family member Carmelo Anthony in which the 10-time All-Star encourages the recipients to "embrace optimism, exercise curiosity ... and forever change the game."

The video also includes a clip of Chris Paul revealing the news to those who were chosen.

"The Jordan Brand Wings' mission is to empower youth and level the playing field through education, mentorship and access," Anthony said at the start of the video.

"This award will open so many opportunities for me to continue my academic career and amount to my greatest potential as a student and individual," Nicholas Popolo, another one of the scholars, said. "I know that this award can help me get to a place where I can change the lives of others, just as the Jordan Wings Program has changed mine."

Williams' letter highlights how Michael Jordan's parents stressed the importance of education long before the Chicago Bulls legend reached the University of North Carolina, which is one reason the Jordan Brand has funded 1,800 students over the last six years in China and the United States through the Wings Scholars program.

"The Jumpman logo started as a representation of one man, but now it represents all of us," the letter said. "We've all seen what happens when the world unites. When we give what we have as individuals to achieve something bigger than ourselves. The past several months have shown us the power of our global community and a passion that transcends cultural and regional boundaries."

In addition to the scholarships, the students will receive resources throughout their college careers, such as one-on-one mentorship and internship sourcing.

Charlotte Hornets principal owner and NBA legend Michael Jordan won a trademark lawsuit against Chinese sports brand Qiaodan Sports in China's Supreme Court on Thursday, per Agence France-Presse. 

The ruling ends an eight-year legal dispute between Jordan and Qiaodan.

The AFP provided more details:

"The landmark ruling, made late last month, prohibits the Fujian-based Qiaodan Sports from using the Chinese translation of Jordan's name, Qiao Dan...

"However, it still allows the firm to continue using its logo of a silhouetted basketball player -- which has similarities with the 'Jumpman' logo used by Nike to promote its 'Air Jordan' line of sports shoes."

Per the AFP, Jordan also won another legal battle versus Qiaodan in 2016, when he earned the trademark to his name written in Chinese characters.

However, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Qiaodan to use its name in Romanized English.

The news comes three years after New Balance won a $1.5 million lawsuit against three Chinese shoemakers for using the sportswear company's slanted "N" logo in 2017, per Pei Li of Reuters.

That ruling came shortly after President Xi Jinping said there would be increased scrutiny and punishment for intellectual property claims.

Per BBC News, that was believed to be the highest financial reward given to a foreign company for a trademark argument. 

The 2020 Jordan Brand Classic, one of the marquee events for the nation's top high school basketball players, has been canceled due to the coronavirus.

Wintrust Arena in Chicago was slated to host the game on March 27

In announcing the cancellation of the game, Jordan Brand announced all tickets purchased will be refunded: 

"While we understand how disappointing this is for the athletes, their families, and the communities who were excited to participate, in everything we do, we must prioritize the health and safety of our employees, athletes and consumers," the company said in a statement. 

Jordan announced the decision on Thursday in the wake of numerous cancellations and postponements across the sports world. Major League Baseball has suspended spring training and delayed its season for at least two weeks. Thursday afternoon, the NCAA has canceled all remaining winter and spring championships, including the men's and women's basketball tournaments. All Power 5 conferences previously canceled their basketball tournaments and the NHL and NBA have suspended their seasons. 

Multiple top-10 recruits were slated to play at the Jordan Brand Classic including 247sports.com's No. 1 overall recruit in 2020, Cade Cunningham, and No. 2 recruit, Evan Mobley. Additionally, B.J. Boston, Ziaire Williams, Isaiah Todd, Caleb Love, Jalen Suggs and Terrance Clark were on the men's team roster. 

Boston and Williams are teammates on Sierra Canyon with Bronny James and Zaire Wade—which just had it's California state title game canceled because of COVID-19. 

According to CNN, 1,272 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the United States as of Thursday afternoon with 38 people dead. 

Recent Jordan Brand Classic alumni include Bam Adebayo, DeAndre Ayton, Bradley Beal, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid and LeBron James.