EXHIBIT 5.1





April 29, 2003





Board of Directors
NIKE, Inc.
One Bowerman Drive
Beaverton, Oregon 97005-6453


I have acted as counsel for NIKE, Inc. (the "Company") in connection
with the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering
1,100,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, no par value (the "Shares"), of
the Company issuable in connection with the Company's Foreign Subsidiary
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"). I have reviewed the corporate
actions of the Company in connection with this matter and have examined
those documents, corporate records, and other instruments I deemed
necessary for the purposes of this opinion.

Based on the foregoing, it is my opinion that:

1. The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly
existing under the laws of the state of Oregon; and

2. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued
pursuant to the Plan and in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the
Board of Directors of the Company, will be legally issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.


Very truly yours,


/s/ John F. Coburn III
______________________
John F. Coburn III
Assistant General Counsel