Three years after his first Jordan Brand collaboration, Nigel Sylvester has officially joined team Jumpman as its first-ever BMX athlete. The Queens-bred cyclist will continue collaborating on kicks, content and more, according to a Jordan Brand blog announcing Sylvester’s endorsement.
Sylvester has been sporting Nike sneakers, when he rides, since 2005. But his first collaboration with the Jordan Brand came in 2018, when he conceptualized the hand-distressed Air Jordan I — a representation of his BMX journey in sneaker form.
“I’ve been signed to Nike for years, and Nike is home to me,” Sylvester said in the Jordan Brand blog. “That being said, it’s an incredible feeling to be signed as an official athlete of the Jordan Brand family. MJ blazed a trail by constantly striving for greatness and breaking down barriers for athletes from every walk of life. His legacy is one that I’ve looked towards for inspiration throughout my career. It’s surreal to get his co-sign and welcome into such an elite team and family of world-class athletes.”
Sylvester joins a long list of talented athletes, which includes Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Buffalo Bills receiver Stefon Diggs, Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Dončić, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson, professional women’s basketball players Maya Moore, Kia Nurse and more.
For Sylvester, “The Jumpman is a way of life.” “It’s a mindset that represents courage, determination, and community, amongst so many other things. The Jumpman is a constant evolution that inspires millions around the world,” he said.
In 2015, he launched his hit film series “GO” via YouTube. The visuals are shot exclusively POV style from Sylvester’s GoPro and each episode combines his passions for sports, travel, connecting with people, and giving back. In one popular episode, Sylvester jumps out of a plane in Dubai with his bike. Of course, at the time, he was wearing the Air Jordan 1 “Bred.”
“The AJ 1 is my all-time favorite shoe,” Sylvester said. “I began riding in them back in 2012, and it felt right. The outsole grips my pedal perfectly and provides the ankle support I need…I look forward to the future collaborations that this new partnership will bring.”