Ranking Michael Jordan’s 11 most iconic commercials of all-time
By Titan Frey
6. Jordan Brand: Maybe It’s My Fault (2008)
It was 10 years after Jordan last wore a Chicago Bulls uniform and five years since he played in the NBA. Still, he was the most popular NBA player.
Because of this, some believed Jordan was so good for the game that it hurt the league. Maybe it’s because some people felt like the NBA couldn’t replace him.
This was the premise of the Jordan Brand commercial titled “Maybe it’s my fault.” The commercial shows different scenarios from Jordan’s life, from the North Carolina and Laney High School locker rooms.
What really makes the commercial great is Jordan’s narration:
"“Maybe it’s my fault. Maybe I led you to believe it was easy, When it wasn’t. Maybe I made you think my highlights started at the free-throw line, And not in the gym. Maybe I made you think that every shot I took was a game-winner. That my game was built on flash, and not fire. Maybe it’s my fault that you didn’t see that failure gave me strength, That my pain was my motivation. Maybe I led you to believe that basketball was a God given gift, And not something I worked for, Every single day of my life. Maybe I destroyed the game.”"
After this narration, Jordan is now shown in front of a group of teenage basketball players. Jordan then says, “Or maybe, you just making excuses.”
This commercial is incredible, and it’s well deserved to be on our list.
Michael Jordan’s ‘The Showdown’ is one of the greatest advertisements in Super Bowl history.
5. McDonald’s: The Showdown (1993)
What’s better than having Michael Jordan and Larry Bird together? This partnership was so good that they made a video game of the two. But that wasn’t all.
The pair was featured in a McDonald’s commercial titled “The Showdown.” This commercial has Bird and Jordan playing in an intense game of H-O-R-S-E.
The winner of the game earns the ultimate prize, which is Jordan’s Big Mac meal. Before the two begin the game, Bird hilariously says, “The first one to miss watches the winner eat. No dunking!”
The two would make incredible shots after incredible shots. Of course, when you have two stars of their magnitude, you can’t have a winner.
The commercial ends with the two continuing to play H-O-R-S-E. Rumor has it the two are still playing to this day.