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Nike’s Jordan Brand CEO Larry Miller admitted to committing a murder at sixteen years old, more than 50 years ago in an interview with Sports Illustrated published on October 16th. Larry Miller, now 72, has served time for this crime. However, he has kept this secret from his peers and colleagues until now.
Sports Illustrated’s Howard Beck spoke with the former Portland Trail Blazers Owner and current CEO of the Jordan Brand about his childhood, growing up as a gang-banger on the streets of West Philadelphia. This shocking confession has come out to the public just before the release of his new memoir, Jump: My Secret Journey From The Streets To The Boardroom, set to launch January 18, 2022.
In his book, he describes his journey from the violent West Philadelphia streets during the 1960s. In his interview, he spoke of his experiences as a member of the Cedar Ave Gang, which he joined at the age of thirteen. During that time, one of his fellow gang members had been killed by a rival and Miller and his crew were determined to exact revenge. As an act of retaliation, Larry, with a .38 revolver in hand, went on a search for his enemies with his friends. Drunk with alcohol and rage, they approached the first person they saw in the area and Larry shot him in the chest, killing him. The man they killed was an 18-year old named Edward White.
Miller stated that he “ran from this” and “hoped that people didn’t find out about it”, however, it had been “eating him up inside.” He came clean about this to his closest friends and family before releasing this to the public, but had not disclosed this to his business associates and colleagues. Beck believes that “This is something that happened in the heat of the moment at age 16,” and asks “Should that define a person for the rest of their lives? Everyone will have their own answer to that.”
Since the time of his youth, Miller has served prison time for the murder and has seemed to have been able to put this tragedy behind him. He has been considered one of the most successful black businessmen in the country and has taken Nike’s Jordan brand from a “$200 Million sneaker company to a $4 Billion global apparel juggernaut,”according to the author of his memoir, Laila Lacy.
Miller’s regret for this murder 50 years ago has been the driving force behind his confession. He cannot be prosecuted for this crime again but his image may be tarnished by this revelation. Miller is prepared for the backlash and appears to find more solace and comfort in the peace he has gained by coming clean to the public about this. Some people may claim that he chose this time to confess in order to sell copies of his book, some people may now view him in a negative way because of his past, and some people will forgive him and marvel at the changes he has made. But as for Larry Miller, he says that it will stick with him for the rest of his life.
