Just like many other superstar athletes, Michael Jordan signed with global powerhouse Nike even before he made his mark in the NBA. The deal was made back in 1984, a five-year contract that showed Nike’s belief in Jordan’s future success. However, this belief was put to the test early on when Jordan suffered a foot injury during his second season, leaving both the Chicago Bulls coaching staff and Nike executives concerned.

Feeling confused and frustrated, Jordan decided to take a break from basketball and return to his alma mater, North Carolina, to work on his degree. While recuperating there, Jordan couldn’t resist watching games of his former college team.

As he began to recover, he even went against the doctors’ advice and played some practice games. Bulls team manager Jerry Krause had heard rumors of Jordan’s secret playing, although MJ had never confirmed it himself.

Despite the doctors urging him to rest, Jordan continued to play in secrecy for two months. The staff at the Bulls may have suspected his hidden activities, but Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro knew for certain that Jordan had been back on the court. This was positive news for Nike, as it meant that Jordan would eventually return to the NBA. However, going against medical advice also meant that Jordan was risking further injury, which was understandably worrisome.

It was evident that Jordan was determined to make a quick comeback. The doctors had given him a 10% chance of never playing again if he returned too soon. However, MJ was adamant about his readiness to return and convinced the Bulls’ staff of his fitness. In the Netflix documentary “The Last Dance,” team owner Jerry Reinsdorf attempted to warn Jordan about the risks of returning too early. In response, Jordan humorously stated that he would only take nine pills for a headache if one could potentially be fatal.