"I will be with Converse until the day I die" - Larry Bird's reaction to Magic Johnson threatening to leave Converse in 1992

While the original Dream Team was in Monte Carlo for their final preparations for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson dropped a bombshell when he threatened to leave his shoe sponsor of more than a decade - Converse.

Magic claimed he had been unhappy during his entire tenure with the brand and that he tried to get out of his contract several times. Johnson cited reasons like Converse didn't invest as much in marketing as its chief competitors, Nike and Reebok.

Magic also said that Converse did not listen to his suggestion to name shoes after players, the way Nike did with Michael Jordan's signature shoe.

And since Magic was synonymous with Larry Bird during that era and both were the shoe company's top pitchmen, Bird was asked about Magic's move. Initially, it was reported that Larry would follow in Magic's footsteps.

However, Bird went on to issue a statement through his lawyer explaining that he was misquoted and that he has no plans of leaving Converse.

"I will be with Converse until the day I die," Bird said. "I have worn Converse since high school. I have always been happy with their products and they have always been great to me. My remarks in Monte Carlo had nothing to do with Converse and I regret any misunderstandings that may have occurred."

Converse was one of Bird's longest-standing endorsement deals

Both Magic and Bird signed with Converse during their rookie seasons in 1979. Both also wore Converse All-Stars and Converse Pro Leather early in their careers before they were given their signature shoes in 1986.

However, as Magic protested, the shoes weren't named after them. Instead, Converse called it the "Weapon" and they were given different colorways that matched their team colors.

Larry wore the "Weapon" until 1991, when he changed to the Converse Star Conquest silhouette, which was the shoe he finished his career with.

Curiously, Johnson never made good on his threat to leave Converse. He stayed with the brand until the end of his contract in 1994, after which Converse did not renew him.

Meanwhile, Bird retired in 1992, but six years after he left the game, SBJ reported that Converse was one of Larry's long-standing deals.

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Bird put a premium on loyalty

Larry Legend's allegiance to Converse throughout his NBA career and even beyond showed the kind of loyalty that he possessed. Bird also showed that loyalty to the Boston Celtics, which drafted him 6th overall in 1978 despite knowing that he was going to return to Indiana State for his senior year. According to Bird, Boston taking the risk in drafting him and waiting for a year for him impressed him and made him loyal to the "Men in Green."

"The only thing that impressed me was that the Celtics took me and waited a year. I just couldn't believe they'd do that,"said Bird. "I thought it was loyal for someone to wait a year without trading me or taking a chance that I wouldn't sign with them. I thought it was very loyal."

Bird repaid that loyalty by playing all of his 13 NBA seasons with the Celtics, winning three straight MVP trophies from 1984 to 1986 while helping them raise banners No. 14 to 16 during the 80s. As for Converse, it's unclear if Bird still has a deal with them right now. However, the fact that he stayed with them way past retirement showed Larry's ultimate loyalty to them.

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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.