10 QUESTIONS {fascinating people}
JASON FRANKLIN Co-founder of Sportiqe
1. What is Sportiqe? Sportiqe is a modern American comfort-wear brand that, at its core, wants to make people feel more comfortable in their everyday life. We started it because we realized that there was a displaced customer going to events, concerts and just traveling that wanted to be more comfortable and fashionable.
2. The NBA was one of your first clients. Can you talk about your roots as a ball boy? The NBA and the Chicago Bulls, in particular, were my happy place growing up. My favorite childhood moments were as a ball boy for the Chicago Bulls. It only made sense that as Sportiqe set out to revolutionize the apparel industry, we start working with a client — the 8 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | MARCH 2020
NBA — that gave us our first opportunity. It was sort of like coming home again.
3. You were an awkward teen, but somehow Scottie Pippen drove you to the mall for your first date. Can you share that story? I was an awkward teen, for sure. I didn’t feel comfortable around my peers. I always felt more comfortable around adults. My first game working for the Bulls, Scottie and I hit it off right away. Scottie and the rest of the team looked at me almost like a little brother. I’d like to think what Scottie did for me was what most older brothers would’ve done for their little brother. In this particular case, my older brother happened to be one of the most famous people in the world.
