That rejection could have ended his story. Instead, Larry chose to remain silent rather than to surrender. For decades, he hid his past while ascending to leadership at Kraft, Jantzen Swimwear, and Nike, becoming their first African American Vice President, and eventually President of the Jordan Brand, and later, President of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers.
When the Trail Blazers discovered his history during the background check process, they did something revolutionary: they hired him anyway based on who he had become, not who he had been.
After his daughter Laila convinced him to share his story in a book they co-authored: JUMP: My Secret Journey from the Streets to the Boardroom, Larry shared publicly for the first time the secret he had held so close to his chest for years. But he quickly learned that he is not alone. There are more than 80 million people in this country with arrest records that block access to employment and economic mobility.
Larry realized that he had succeeded in large part because he wasn't forced to share the details of his past, and that millions of others didn't have that choice. They faced rejection at every turn: job applications, housing forms, professional licenses, educational institutions. More than 44,000 federal, state, and local laws that create a lifelong sentence of exclusion, locking people out of the economy and pushing communities into cycles of poverty and recidivism.
Larry helped build one of the most iconic brands in the world. He knew how to change narratives, move culture, and scale impact. He also knew that sports, business, and entertainment had the power to influence millions in ways few other forces could.
1997
Nike hired Larry to run its domestic apparel operations, making Larry Nike’s first Black Vice President.
1999-2006
When Michael Jordan retired from basketball, Nike Chairman Phil Knight appointed Larry president of the newly formed Jordan Brand. Under Larry's leadership, the Jordan Brand became a global phenomenon, expanding from basketball footwear into a $4 billion international lifestyle brand.
2007-2012
Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen convinced Larry to leave Nike and become president of the NBA franchise. He was one of the first African Americans to lead a professional sports team. Under his leadership, the Trail Blazers made three consecutive playoff appearances and sold out 159 straight games.
When the Trail Blazers discovered Larry's history during a background check, they did something revolutionary: they hired him anyway, based on who he had become, not who he had been.
2012-2021
Larry returned to Nike as president of the Jordan Brand and was named Chairman of the Jordan Brand Advisory Board in 2019.
2021
Larry’s daughter Laila Lacy convinced him to share his story publicly for the first time and together they co-authored JUMP: My Secret Journey from the Streets to the Boardroom, the response was overwhelming.
2022
Shortly after the book's release, Larry met Ken Oliver, then Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Checkr, Inc. In many ways, Ken's story mirrored Larry's own. Having spent nearly a quarter century in the California prison system, Ken had risen to become a national leader in second-chance hiring. Recognizing their shared experiences and complementary positions, Larry and Ken joined forces to drive national change.
2024
Larry and Ken formed the Justice & Upward Mobility Project to leverage their lived experience to reshape the narrative about people who have experienced justice involvement, and to provide career opportunities to livable wage employment and economic mobility for youth and adults impacted by the justice system.
2024
Ana Zamora, CEO of The Just Trust, a national justice reform philanthropy, invested in Larry and Ken’s leadership and vision by providing a $5 million seed grant to launch JUMP.
2025
JUMP held its official launch event at NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco, gathering changemakers from professional sports, business, entertainment, and philanthropy.
Larry Miller is currently Chair of the Board for the Justice & Upward Mobility Project.
