MJ wanted the MVP winners to be reminded of their own feat, not his legacy.
Michael Jordan has left an indelible mark on the sport that transcends individual stats and accolades. Despite being retired for decades, MJ's influence is still felt in the NBA, so much so that the league decided to name the regular season MVP award after him last year as a tribute to his dominance and greatness.
That said, many believed that the design of the actual trophy should also be Jordan-like. However, the man in question begged to disagree. According to Mark Smith, a Jordan brand designer who also worked with Jordan and the NBA in designing the trophy, "His Airness" didn't want the trophy to resemble him in any way, shape, or form.
"He was really keen on saying, 'Look, what's the name of the award?' It's Michael Jordan Most Valuable Player award for the NBA. That says it all. No matter what's on top. That's really it," Smith said via the Charlotte Observer.
"This is straight out of his language, 'The player should see themselves in this, not me,'" he added.
The man on the trophy was not MJ
Smith already knew the underlying statement in Jordan's objection. Upon hearing his suggestion, Mark understood that MJ believed that having a trophy bearing his image would imply that the MVP title was exclusively about him rather than a recognition of the individual talent and hard work the rightful winner put in.
And so, Smith went back to the drawing board and did exactly what Mike requested. Though it was quite a challenge, the Jordan Brand designer said it all panned out well in the end, especially knowing they had done it exactly how MJ wanted it.
"When he said, 'Not me,' it clicked right away. I said, 'OK, this is a universal theme. This isn't a man in a uniform. This is a human form reaching for that.' And the story of raw-to-refined really became how to bring all that together. That was a great challenge. It was a fabulous challenge," Smith added.
MJ's humility
Jordan's stance on the design of the NBA's MVP trophy highlights his genuine humility, a trait that hoops fans often overlook about him. In retrospect, it was a bold decision rooted in a desire to inspire rather than overshadow.
In conclusion, Michael's argument was simple yet profound: He wanted the NBA season MVP winners to feel empowered by their own achievement without having to feel the weight of his legacy hanging over them whenever they look at the Michael Jordan trophy.
