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Michael Jordan Mourns Death Of Legendary Nike Executive

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 5:33 PM ET

Michael Jordan responded to the passing of former basketball coach and Nike executive George Raveling, who died at age 88.

Darren Rovell shared a statement from Jordan, who credited Raveling for his decision to sign with Nike and launch the famous Air Jordan brand.

"I'm deeply saddened to hear about George’s passing," Jordan said. "For more than 40 years, he blessed my life with wisdom, encouragement, and friendship. He was a mentor in every sense, and I’ll always carry deep gratitude for his guidance. I signed with Nike because of George, and without him, there would be no Air Jordan. He lived an extraordinary life, breaking barriers and paving the way for so many who came after him. My thoughts are with Delores, Mark, and George’s many, many friends."

Jordan's connection to Raveling

Raveling coached Jordan on the 1984 Olympic basketball team as an assistant to Bobby Knight. The duo forged a tight bond that summer, and the six-time NBA champion said Raveling pushed him to take a meeting with Nike despite his reluctance.

"George Raveling was with me on the 1984 Olympics team," Jordan recalled in 2015. "He used to always try to talk to me, ‘You gotta go Nike, you gotta go Nike. You’ve got to try.'"

Air Jordan has since blossomed into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise and one of the most globally recognized brands. Raveling worked as a Director for International Basketball at Nike after ending his Hall of Fame coaching career.

Remembering Raveling

Raveling played college basketball at Villanova before joining his alma mater as an assistant coach in 1963. Nine years later, he landed his first head coaching job at Washington State.

Raveling led the Cougars to two NCAA tournaments near the end of his 11-season tenure. He took Iowa dancing twice in three seasons before spending eight years as USC's coach. The three-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year retired with a 336-292 overall record.

The first African-American coach in the ACC and Pac-8, Raveling received the original copy of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech at the 1963 March on Washington. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame 10 years ago.

"As a coach, broadcaster, administrator and global ambassador, Raveling’s impact on the game of basketball is impossible to quantify," the Basketball Hall of Fame wrote. "His legacy lives on at the Hall and in the countless players, coaches and fans he has touched."

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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