Would you ever stop wearing Jordans, even if you could easily afford them? For most sneakerheads, that sounds unthinkable. But for former NBA star Rudy Gay, it wasn’t just about the shoes; it was personal. His frustration with Michael Jordan ran so deep that he ditched the legendary brand altogether. And when you hear his side of the story, it’s easy to see why.
Back in 2006, when the Charlotte Hornets were still the Bobcats and Michael Jordan was in charge, the team had a tough draft decision to make. They had their eyes on three promising prospects—Adam Morrison, Rudy Gay, and Brandon Roy. After much debate, they went with Morrison, believing his scoring ability and competitive fire fit their vision best. That alone was a tough pill for Gay to swallow, but what made it worse?
Gay had actually practiced with the Hornets before the draft. It’s no surprise that moment is still fresh in his mind:
“So it was me and Adam. So I do the same thing… I talked to MJ at that point, MJ is the president. Whatever. He doing this presidential sh*t. Like saying, just bulls**tting, but for sure. I thought I was going third. And when that third pick came and I didn’t get drafted… I was hot, bro. Honestly, I didn’t wear Jordans for a couple of years,” he said on the Knuckleheads Podcast.
From Michael Jordan’s team’s perspective, it wasn’t a random call. Morrison had just led the NCAA in scoring, dropping 28.1 points per game in his final college season. The Bobcats wanted someone who could take over offensively, especially in crunch time. Jordan had himself, in an interview, stressed the importance of having a player who could “finish ball games and take the big shots.”
Sep 25, 2021; Haven, Wisconsin, USA; Michael Jordan watches on from the 11th green during day two four-ball rounds for the 43rd Ryder Cup golf competition at Whistling Straits. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
At the time, Charlotte desperately needed a reliable scorer to close out games. Morrison looked like the perfect fit for that role, which is why they bet on him over Gay and Roy. And thus began Rudy’s boycott of the Jordans. However, he is not the only player who has been against MJ’s Nike-owned sneaker brand.
Ex-Knicks star once called out Michael Jordan for robbery through his sneaker brand
Stephon Marbury has never been one to hold back, especially when it comes to expensive sneakers. No wonder that back in 2015, he did not hesitate to take a direct shot at Michael Jordan. He accused MJ of profiting off struggling communities.
“Jordan has been robbing the hood since. Kids dying for shoes and the only face this dude makes is I don’t care. The time will change,” Marbury said, making it clear he had no patience for the sneaker giant’s impact.
It’s easy to see where he’s coming from. Marbury grew up in a New York housing project as one of seven kids, where money was tight. Like many young hoopers, he dreamed of owning a pair of Air Jordans. His mother initially refused, but after persistent pleading, he finally got them.
“Two hundred dollars was $200. It was a lot of money. It was a sacrifice,” his mother, Mabel Marbury, recalled. “Anybody that would take their money and buy a pair of sneakers and don’t have no food in their house — is silly.”
Determined to make a difference, Marbury launched his own sneaker, the Starbury, with Steve & Barry’s, selling at just $14.98. The affordable kicks held their own in a market dominated by pricey brands. Unfortunately, Starbury faded when Steve & Barry’s went bankrupt in 2009.
Clearly, you can hate the Jordans for any reason, but there is no denying the brand has successfully created a embedded itself for the long haul in the sneaker market.
The post Ex-NBA Star Boycotted Michael Jordan’s Brand Shoes in Revenge Over Hornets’ Betrayal appeared first on EssentiallySports.