Michael Jordan's Love-Hate Relationship with the Los Angeles Lakers

The life and times of Michael Jeffrey Jordan have been well-documented by longtime professional historians and loyal fans alike since his earliest days in the NBA. Throughout the same timeframe, Nike, Inc., the world's largest sportswear company, has made it a mission to champion the man behind the Jumpman through a number of initiatives.

In 1997, the Oregon-based institution formally formed Jordan Brand, a separate business unit dedicated to the Chicago Bulls legend. Since then, the eponymous label has grown into a subsidiary valued at over $10 billion. While still offering pinnacle expressions of performance basketball through the Air Jordan series, as well as signature lines for the likes of Luka Dončić, MJ's brand has become synonymous with winning, excellence, and greatness across different disciplines, and in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, and Paris.

With the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend scheduled between Thursday, Feb. 12, and Sunday, Feb. 15, the Swoosh has put together a special take on the Air Jordan 4. The retro is covered in an "Imperial Purple/Varsity Maize/Black/White" color scheme that's been dubbed "Lakeshow" for its likeness to the Los Angeles Lakers' iconic hues. But, the story doesn't end there.

If you look at Jordan's life on-and-off-the-court, the purple-and-gold NBA franchise has remained a constant. From the days of Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. to those of Kobe Bryant, "His Airness" has had a love-hate (more love than hate) relationship with the Lakers.

Continue ahead for an overview of MJ's relationship with the L.A.-based team, and head over to Nike.com/Jordan to shop all things Team Jumpman.

The Tar Heel Connection

Michael Jordan enrolled at the University of North Carolina in 1981. As a first-year student, he formed part of the Tar Heels squad that won the '82 National Championship, alongside third-year student, James Worthy.

Worthy entered the NBA Draft the same year he helped his alma mater win college basketball. He was selected as the first overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers, ultimately winning three titles with the storied franchise ('85, '87, '88).

Jordan joined the NBA in '84, being selected by the Chicago Bulls. After making his Madison Square Garden debut on Nov. 11 of that year, the 21-year-old rookie was interviewed about any other team he might've wanted to play for had he had the choice. In his response, MJ expressed admiration for Worthy's team: “I didn’t think of a team to play for...I like the Los Angeles Lakers 'cause of Worthy and all the players they have there. They're a very talented team, but if I went to L.A., it's no way that I can help them. They won...[championships] without me. So, I’m happy I came to Chicago and I can contribute and help 'em win."

"Showtime" Showdown

Despite suffering a potential career-ending injury early on in his second NBA season, Jordan took the National Basketball Association by storm. His averages from '84 to '90 were as follows: 32.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists across 427 games.

By the looks of his stat line, you might get the impression that MJ and his Bulls squad were steamrolling across every opponent, but this wasn't the case. As history tells it, number 23 and company couldn't get past Chuck Daly's Detroit Pistons—a group infamously known as the "Bad Boy Pistons."

From '88-'90, Jordan and the Bulls' NBA Finals aspirations were dismantled by Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, and the rest of the Pistons team. A breakthrough took place in the '91 Eastern Conference Finals.

The Bulls swept Daly's Pistons in the aforementioned series, with Jordan scoring 29 points in Game 4 of the ECF. This victory meant Chicago would go on to face the "Showtime" Lakers in the NBA Finals, MJ's first visit to the "promised land."

Prior to '91, the League's top achievement was largely contested between the Lakers and Boston Celtics. Wins by the Philadelphia 76ers and Pistons interrupted the battle of the dynasties, but no group as defiantly as Jordan and the Bulls throughout the remainder of the '90s.

The Bulls met Magic Johnson and the Lakers at home on June 2, 1991. The game went down to the wire with the purple-and-gold squad taking Game 1, 93-91.

Game 2 in Chicago went a little different, with the Bulls winning 107-86. The June 5 performance, however, might be best remembered for a specific move number 23 performed while surrounded by Lakers.

The next three games saw the Bulls travel to the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif., the last time the Lakers would call this arena "home." These matches were closer—with Game 3 even going into overtime—but there was no doubt Chicago was the better team.

Johnson has often referred to Jordan's first NBA championship as a sort of "passing of the torch." The legendary Laker has said that MJ's spectacular layup from Game 2 was the moment in which he and his teammates realized their era had come to an end.

In the aftermath of Game 5, Johnson once said: "When they beat us, [Jordan and I] met in between both locker rooms and he just put his arms and just started crying. He was so happy that he had won, that he busted through. That was a special moment for him and myself."

Jordan and Johnson would reunite a year later as the two represented Team USA Basketball in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

"A New Sheriff in Town"

Team USA Basketball dominated the '92 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The group's run helped solidify Michael Jordan as the face of the sport, which only helped his star power grow. The all-new Air Jordan 7 benefitted from the performances of "His Airness" on the global stage.

During a "Dream Team" practice, Jordan reportedly trash-talked Johnson and Larry Bird. Though in jest, MJ, according to Johnson, told them there was a "new sheriff in town." The Lakers legend told TODAY that he and Bird laughed and replied, "Michael, you're right. You are the new king and good luck. And man, he did not disappoint either."

Jordan's son, Marcus, released a special edition Air Jordan 7 inspired by his father's words in November 2022. The project was through his Trophy Room boutique.

"Little Brother"

MJ's words to his Dream Team teammates proved true as he and the Bulls achieved two NBA titles three-peats between '91 and '98.

Jordan briefly retired from professional basketball to play Minor League Baseball, giving way to some established and new talent to share the spotlight. One such name was Kobe Bean Bryant, a 17-year-old selected 13th by the Lakers in the 1996 NBA Draft.

Although Bryant's talent was still raw and the fact that he was overshadowed by Shaquille O'Neal, number 8 inspired comparisons to MJ. A young Bryant didn't run from these comparisons, but he checked them on multiple occasions, telling ESPN in 2013 that "[t]hey eventually faded away because I was putting together my own identity."

Bryant's outlook on the situation wasn't limited to words; he proved himself on-court against the player many in the NBA referred to as "Black Jesus."

During the '98 All-Star Game, a 19-year-old Bryant impressed Jordan enough to have the NBA champion tell a locker room with Reggie Miller, Penny Hardaway, Shawn Kemp, and Charles Barkley, "That little Laker boy’s gonna take everyone one-on-one...He don't let the game come to him; he goes and takes it."

Bryant and "His Airness" were both famously coached by Phil Jackson.

Throughout the years, Jordan and Bryant developed a friendship. The former considered the latter a "little brother," offering advice for basketball and any other discipline for which Bryant had questions.

During the '02-'03 NBA season, the Lakers guard was a sneaker free agent. A contractual clause prohibited Bryant from signing a new endorsement deal, which led him to wear a variety of footwear as he looked for a new home. Jordan Brand was one such suitor, making Player-Exclusive editions of the Air Jordan 8 and Air Jordan 3 in Lakers colors. Bryant wore the former in his last-ever matchup against MJ (March 28, 2003).

Bryant tragically passed away on Jan. 26, 2020. His "big brother" shared words at the five-time NBA champion's memorial in Los Angeles, going on to say that a piece of him died the day the world lost Bryant.

Friendship with "The Logo"

Jordan's time in professional basketball didn't coincide with that of Jerry West's, but that didn't stop the six-time NBA champ from admiring the Lakers legend and League logo.

After the passing of West at the age of 86, MJ shared a heartfelt statement with Stephen A. Smith in which he expressed: "I always wished I could’ve played against him as a competitor, but the more I came to know him, I wish I had been his teammate. He was truly a friend and a mentor. Like an older brother to me."

"Lakeshow" Retro

As is customary, Jordan Brand is set to release a number of special projects for the next All-Star Weekend. The NBA's mid-season break will take place in Los Angeles County.

Similar to the Nike Kobe 3 Protro Low "Warning Label" set to launch exclusively in L.A., Team Jumpman's Air Jordan 4 "Lakeshow" project indulges in a rich purple.

Scheduled to release on Saturday, Feb. 14, the latest take on the fourth Air Jordan model is undeniably an ode to the Los Angeles Lakers, a franchise worthy of MJ's admiration that ultimately helped him in his journey to cementing himself as one of the greatest basketball players of all-time.