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How a 12-year-old negotiated free Air Jordans from Michael Jordan himself
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- How a 12-year-old negotiated free Air Jordans from Michael Jordan himself
Any basketball player who has been fortunate enough to cross paths with the one and only Michael Jordan has a story to tell. Whether it's iconic big man Kevin Garnett , who was impressed by how Jordan " owned the stage ," or the Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson, who believed Jordan was " glowing " when he first met him, the Chicago Bulls great almost always left an indelible mark on anyone he came into contact with.
This included former UCLA guard Jerica Williams, who recalled how, as a 12-year-old, she won free Air Jordans from His Airness himself at his basketball camp.
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She actually missed her first chance
Williams, a 5'8" guard who played at UCLA and San Diego State, recalled participating in Jordan's camp when she was 12. With a pair of Air Jordans on the line, she didn't hesitate to raise her hand and join the free-throw shooting contest for it.
"Make it, get a free pair of unreleased Jordans. Miss it, sit down," Jerica said of the high stakes. "He picked me once, and I missed."
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Dejected yet determined, Williams refused to give up and yearned for another chance. As fate would have it, she got an assist from an unlikely source – Jordan's son.
"The second time (he never picked the same kid twice), I was sitting next to his son," she narrated. "'Raise your hand,' he said. "He'll pick you again.'"
Recognizing that second chances don't come often, she immediately raised her hand and was recognized by Jordan. This time, though, she negotiated a deal with one of the most cold-blooded players in the sport's history.
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"When it was my turn to walk to the free throw line, I called him over. He put the microphone down so no one could hear and I asked: 'If I make it, instead of one pair of shoes, can me and five of my friends get shoes?'" Jerica stated. "He pulled back and looked at me, shocked but maybe impressed? Then he looked around and told the crowd what I'd asked."
MJ agreed
Nervous about how Jordan would react to her request, the seconds that passed felt like an hour to Williams. However, Jordan's response lifted her spirit and confidence.
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"He said, 'Yes, make the shot, you and five friends get the shoes,'" Jerica revealed.
And so, she walked up to the charity with a confident gait and with nerves of steel, took the shot.
"I made the shot. The place went crazy," Jerica said.
A few weeks later, a pair of Cool grey Air Jordan 9s were delivered to her house — a pair that remains in her possession, unworn and still in their original box.
As generous as Michael was to Jerica at that camp, he wasn't feeling so charitable to the children who attended his Flight Camp in Santa Barbara in 2016. According to Chris Paul , he challenged Jordan to a shooting contest with the stipulation that if he missed three shots, every kid at that camp would receive a free pair.
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Jordan was already 53 at the time and had long retired from the NBA. So, the kids there were feeling giddy at the thought of going home with Air Jordans. Unfortunately, they didn't realize how competitive MJ truly was; the man would rather cut off an arm than lose a challenge.
"He damn made them shots, and they just said to hell with the kids, man. So forget him, man. He wrong for that," Paul said .
These stories referenced two sides of Jordan. While he undoubtedly respected a young lady who dared to take another shot after failing the first time, his competitive fire still burned too brightly to give the young kids in Santa Barbara what they wanted.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
