Michael Jordan achieved greatness in sports history that no other athlete can replicate. During his short but illustrious NBA career, Jordan transcended his nickname and the NBA. However, without his parents, Jordan would not have been able to achieve such great things. His mother, Delores Jordan, and father, James Jordan, were the biggest catalysts in changing his attitude towards success.
Jordan’s mother worked multiple jobs most of her life to provide a better life for her family. Throughout Jordan’s career, she continued to inspire “his style” to relentlessly pursue his dreams through hard work, even after he found success in the league.
One of Delores’ greatest contributions to Jordan’s life was her getting him to sign a Nike deal. In 1984, she helped the Chicago Bulls legend sign a Nike deal instead of an Adidas deal. The deal resulted in the creation of the iconic Air Jordan and set a precedent for Nike’s largest basketball deal. The deal gave the six-time NBA champion a signature shoe and a $250,000 salary.
Jordan confessed in “The Last Dance” that his parents tried to keep their children busy and pushed them to participate in organized sports. Few people know that if Deloris hadn’t stepped in earlier, the NBA legend would never have appeared in the NBA. During the college selection process, Jordan was kicked out and he never wanted to play basketball again. His mother stepped in and asked her son to turn his frustration into hard work, which eventually paid off.
Jordan has become a legend, and whenever his legacy is discussed, Deloris’ name is always mentioned.
What does Michael Jordan’s mother do?
Deloris Jordan and her dedication became a role model for her children. Even after retiring from her career, she never stopped giving back to her hometown. In 1989, even before Jordan won his first championship, she founded the Michael Jordan Foundation.
In 1997, she founded the James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club and Family Life Center to help underprivileged children obtain appropriate academic qualifications. In 2000, she re-founded the James R. Jordan Foundation to support low-income children. In 2021, Jordan released the Dear Deloris shoe to pay tribute to the mother who shaped his future.
She has authored several books such as “Salt in Your Shoes: Michael Jordan Pursues His Dreams,” “Michael’s Golden Rules,” “Did I Tell You Today I Love You?,” and “Dream Big.“
To this day, she remains an active writer, with a particular focus on writing books on parenting and children’s literature.
editor
Abigail Keviciusa