Caitlin Clark should've gotten Michael Jordan-type shoe deal, former Nike executive says

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Caitlin Clark’s shoe deal with Nike caught the attention of former executive Sonny Vaccaro over the weekend, and he believes she should have gotten a deal similar to what Michael Jordan received.

Vaccaro helped sign Jordan to the former Chicago Bulls star’s first Nike deal in 1984.

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Former sports marketing executive Sonny Vaccaro presents the Sonny Vaccaro Champion of Change Award at the Advancement of Blacks in Sports Champions and Legends Awards at Resorts World Las Vegas on May 28, 2022 in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

"She should have gotten a piece of everything just like Michael Jordan," he told TMZ Sports.

"She will never be at a higher peak than she was during college this last year in that Final Four," he added. "If she’s going to be the greatest woman player in the world, it’s going to take time to do that — and she can do that."

Vaccaro said there was plenty of blame to go around and that Clark should have gotten more money.

"It was so poorly handled," he said. "I thought they (the agents) handled it wrong. I think the reason is she, just like (Sabrina) Ionescu and a couple others, (felt) obligated to Nike."

Vaccaro also theorized that previous name, image and likeness deals also likely played a role, which other generations of basketball stars did not have.

Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, poses for a portrait at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during her introductory press conference on April 17, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Matt Kryger/NBAE via Getty Images)

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