The Game’s Logic on Michael Jordan vs. Big Baller Brand Is Shaky, But He Has a Point

Compton rapper The Game shared Wednesday on Instagram that he had purchased four pairs of the Big Baller Brand ZO2 sneakers. You know, the ones people have been flaming for their $495 price tag. Not only did Game buy four pairs for his son and their friends, he pledged to buy 10 more pairs for kids who couldn’t afford them.

His reasons, while lengthy and profanity-laced, are entirely valid. Game explains that he brought the shoes to stand behind a family brand and a rising star. He also calls out the hypocrisy of people who have no problem giving hundreds (and thousands) of dollars to a luxury brand, but balking over the price in the instance of this family business.

“Funny how niggas will go & buy Gucci flip flops for $300-400 with no complaints but then complain & bitch when a kid & his family is making a name for themselves & trying to grow their own brand,” The Game wrote.

You can’t argue with that. But then Game takes it a step further, drawing a pointed comparison to buying Jordans. “MJ, as much as I love & support him & his legacy ain’t really ever did much for the black community other then tax our mothafuckin’ ass for the same shoes over & over as well as charge these kids parents hella money to get in these camps no hate.”

i haven’t heard lavar ball say ‘black lives matter’ any more than michael jordan has.

That’s where The Game’s logic stops adding up. Where, in any of the countless interviews LaVar Ball has given, has he promised to do anything for the black community, either? When did Ball outline plans to do anything with ZO2 proceeds other than take them to the bank—just like Mike. I haven’t heard LaVar say “Black Lives Matter” any more than I’ve heard Michael Jordan say it; in other words, supporting one self-interested business owner over another is a matter of personal economics rather than a social statement.

PBS Newshour reported that Michael Jordan made more from Jordan Brand sales in 2014 than in his entire playing career. This trend is on pace to continue, many times over. Forbes reports that Nike has a goal to double the brand’s annual revenue to $4.5 billion by 2020 in a push toward $50 billion in overall sales. 

But here’s the thing: While total Jordan U.S. retail shoe sales hit $3 billion in 2015, His Airness pocketed an estimated $110 million. This means that for every dollar MJ makes, Nike makes approximately 27. While Jordan is the face, and is being handsomely rewarded, the corporation behind him profits far more. This isn’t about Ball vs. Jordan—Jordan is arguably inconsequential. It’s Ball vs. a global behemoth. A purchase of the ZO2s is a protest against the 1 percent, if you will.

It’s easy to be outraged over Ball’s $495 price point when you don’t know (or seem to care about) the markup on those Nikes. Nike is likely getting over on consumers way more than Ball, who determined his price tag using the formula of, “I figure that’s what the shoe is worth. When you are your own owner you can come up with any price you want.”

To be totally fair, Jordan has, after a 15-year career and almost as many in retirement, recently made some charitable donations —though none seem to explicitly support the “black community” other than his $5 million contribution to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In August he penned a letter for The Undefeated in which he declared, “I can no longer stay silent,” while announcing a $2 million donation to organizations working to end police violence. But even then, he played both sides of the fence, giving half to the NAACP and half to the police. 

If you want to stand in solidarity with an entrepreneurial person of color, buy the ZO2s. If you want to support a small business owner versus a corporate titan, rock with the Big Baller Brand. Hell, if you have $500 and want to spend it however the hell you please, cop you some ZO2s. You don’t have to contort the decision into an altruistic one. You can throw money at a budding empire or an established one. The “black community,” literally, is neither here nor there.