It all started with a vision. Thirty-one years ago, Dennis Page set out to create a basketball magazine like no other—one that wasn’t just about the game but also captured the culture surrounding it. “The idea crystallized as a basketball-only magazine from a hip-hop point of view,” he recalled. Page wanted SLAM to feel like those legendary Nike/Mars Blackmon ads featuring Michael Jordan, with photography as sharp as VIBE and writing as bold as Rolling Stone.
But somehow, it all came back to Jordan. No matter how much SLAM aimed to cover the entire basketball experience, His Airness remained the ultimate draw. As editor Cory Johnson put it, “Sports Illustrated was only about Michael Jordan. I wanted us to be about the game of basketball.” That formula clicked instantly, and in 1994, SLAM hit the shelves.
Recently, Page reflected on Jordan’s role in SLAM’s creation during a BBALL RADIO interview. Even after MJ’s first retirement, his cultural impact was undeniable. “Mike is like the new rock. He’s like a superstar. Mike is like Michael Jackson,” Page said. That comparison was enough to convince his boss. By October 1993, plans were in motion, and just three months later, the first issue was out.
The ink was drying on the debut cover, Jordan’s silhouette poised for flight, when the unthinkable happened: His Airness announced his retirement. Suddenly, SLAM’s launch hung in the balance, a dream teetering on the edge of collapse. “Then Mike retires. You know, he says, ‘I’m out.’ Literally, we were not going to go forward,” Page admitted.
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Still, Johnson had other ideas. “No, there’s enough to write about,” he insisted. So, SLAM pushed ahead, covering not just NBA stars but high school phenoms, sneaker culture, and playground legends.
SLAM, born from the raw energy of basketball culture, quickly became a phenomenon, fueled by the undeniable magnetism of Michael Jordan. Yet, even as Jordan’s influence permeated every page, another MJ was shaping the very fabric of the ’90s. In a twist of fate, their paths would intersect, revealing a hidden connection that transcended the boundaries of sports and music, a bond that would leave an indelible mark on pop culture. Well, Michael Jordan and Michael Jackson? They had more in common than just their initials.
The hidden bond between two MJs
It’s not every day that two of the biggest icons in history share the same initials. But in the ’90s, if you said “MJ,” you could be talking about two people—Michael Jordan, the global basketball sensation, or Michael Jackson, the undisputed king of pop. Both were at the peak of their powers, setting standards in their fields that no one else could touch. Yet, not many know how the two legends first crossed paths.
Singer Michael Bivins shed some light on this in a 2023 interview on My Expert Opinion. Recalling one of the best moments of his life, Bivins took fans back to a time when both MJs were on the same lot—Jackson filming a music video and Jordan hanging out nearby in his Winnebago. The singer wasted no time and went knocking on Jordan’s door.
“I’m like ‘Yo yo Mike, I need you to do me a favor,’” Bivins shared. Jordan, always cool, asked what it was. “Man, you got to come meet ABC,” he replied. Jordan had never met the King of Pop before, but within minutes, that changed. The two legends finally stood face to face—and even took a photo together.
That moment sparked a friendship that led to one of pop culture’s most unforgettable crossovers. In 1992, Jackson invited Jordan to star in his Jam music video. “We had to play one-on-one. It was so embarrassing,” Jackson later admitted. From missing shots to struggling against Jordan’s defense, he quickly realized just how different their worlds were. But that didn’t matter—the two MJs had already built a bond that would last forever.
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