In the last five years, sneaker fans—especially those who love the legend of Michael Jordan—have been treated to two on-screen treats. The first was the docuseries The Last Dance, which many still credit with helping them through some of the trauma of stay-at-home lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you, Your Airness. The second, more recent, is Air, the Amazon Studios original movie about the negotiations that led to Michael Jordan signing a shoe deal with Nike.
While the film has received overwhelmingly positive reviews for its powerful portrayal of this story that’s probably in every sneakerhead’s movie collection, it has also come under some fire for some of its choices regarding what it fictionalized. Here are some of what the Air movie got wrong and what it got right.
10. The Air Ship
In Air, Sonny Vaccaro, the sports marketer and scout credited with setting up the deal between Nike and MJ, shows Michael a shoe as part of the company’s pitch. He does so with marketing director (played by Jason Bateman) and designer Peter Moore (played by Matthew Maher). The movie leads us to believe it was the iconic Air Jordan 1, but it wasn’t. While it’s true that Jordan did rock the first Jays in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers, those aren’t the shoes he was shown in the meeting with Nike. Instead, he saw the Air Ship, still in prototype form, and wore them on the 18th of October during a game against the New York Knicks in the preseason. It was only in November that he got to wear the Air Jordan 1s.
Verdict: The Air movie got this wrong.
9. Just Do It
On the 1st of July 1988, an inspiring 80-year-old runner named Walt Stack introduced the world to one of the most enduring catchphrases of all time. Stack talks to the camera in the simple but iconic commercial while jogging steadily across the Golden Gate Bridge. As Stack fades out, we see the words “Just Do It” in white over a black screen. In Air, Vaccaro learns that this phrase was born out of something that was said by a convicted double murderer, Gary Gilmore, as he was about to be executed by a firing squad. This is true to life.
According to Dan Wieden, co-founder of Wieden and Kennedy, an advertising agency that worked with Nike, Gilmore said, “Let’s do it” when asked if he had any last words to say. Wieden, struck by the man’s courage in the face of immense adversity, decided to use the phrase as the foundation for the Nike campaign, jokingly adding, “I didn’t like the ‘let’s’ thing, and so I just changed that, cause otherwise I’d have to give him credit”.
Verdict: The Air movie got this right.
8. Michael Jordan, the Underdog
In the movie, we’re introduced to the idea that Adidas and Converse weren’t willing to go all-in on Jordan – even though they did want to do business with him – likely because he wasn’t the highest draft in the NBA in his class and they believed more in the higher picks. This is true. Though many view Michael Jordan as the indisputable GOAT now, he had to work hard to get to where he did. He was known for his incredible work ethic and is said to have told his University of North Carolina assistant coach that nobody would ever work as hard as he worked. The film accurately portrays him as an underdog and how that shaped Nike’s decision to pursue him.
Verdict: The film got this right.
7. Michael Jordan, the Car Lover
When we hear that Michael Jordan wanted Nike to give him his new car as part of the deal, that’s 100% correct. Just look at how many Air Jordans – especially those designed by Tinker Hatfield – are inspired in some way by a car’s design, and you immediately see the connection. Michael Jordan’s wish for a car is referenced a few times throughout the film, though specific details aren’t given. According to reports, Vaccaro allegedly offered Jordan “as many cars as you wish” in exchange for his signature, but Jordan countered with a simple request: “I want a car now.” Despite Vaccaro’s promise, according to accounts, Jordan’s response was simply a smile, leaving people guessing whether the car purchase would happen.
Verdict: Yes, the film got this right, too.
6. Deloris’ Role
When Ben Affleck first approached Michael Jordan to discuss the Air movie project, one of the most important things to the basketball star was highlighting that without Deloris Jordan, Michael’s mother, the Nike deal wouldn’t have happened. She was a highly influential part of getting Michael to talk to Nike in the first place, considering that his initial interest was working with Adidas. However, Deloris (played by Viola Davis) doesn’t necessarily speak for the family to the extent that the film portrays it. Much of the focus on her was placed as a way of not having to show Michael in the film physically, but it doesn’t change the fact that Deloris Jordan is one of the main reasons why we have the Air Jordan line today.
Verdict: There’s a bit of truth.
5. Jordan x Adidas?
While Michael Jordan and Nike are now synonymous, their journey wasn’t always destined. Initially, Jordan was keen on getting an endorsement from an established brand like Converse, who, at the time, chose to prioritize existing stars like Magic and Bird. As depicted accurately in the film, Jordan’s true preference initially leaned towards Adidas. He was even known to have practised in their sneakers. Adidas wasn’t an ideal landing spot, as the company was dealing with internal turmoil following the death of its founder, Adolf Dassler (a controversial figure with ties to the Nazi party). They couldn’t compete with Nike’s offer or dedicate resources to creating a signature shoe for Jordan. Despite their interest, Adidas wasn’t in a suitable position then. A better offer from Nike swayed Jordan, leading to the iconic partnership we saw begin in the film.
Verdict: The Air movie got most of this right.
RELATED: An Artist Imagines What Michael Jordan Adidas Sneakers Could Have Looked Like
4. The 51% Rule
Much is made in Air about a rule mandated by the NBA and broken proudly by the rookie Jordan in cahoots with the Nike team, which required players to wear shoes that were 51% white. Is this true? Yes, this is based on facts. The rule was around for a long time and only got lifted officially in the 2000s. The exact wording of the policy said that every player “must wear shoes that not only matched their uniforms but match the shoes worn by their teammates”. The original Air Jordan 1s, featuring a bold colour scheme matching the Chicago Bulls uniform (red, white, and black), clashed with the NBA’s dress code restrictions. As a result, Nike incurred a $5,000 fine for each game Jordan wore them, though the exact number of fines remains unconfirmed. While technically it wasn’t one, this ban gave Nike some unexpected publicity. They ran with this, portraying the shoe as rebellious and rule-breaking.
Verdict: Depending on who you ask in the sneaker community, Ben Affleck’s Air movie got this right, too. However, some believe the sneakers were never actually banned.
RELATED: The Most Popular Air Jordan 1s, Ranked
3. Did Sonny Talk Directly With The Jordans?
A significant plot in the Air movie relates to Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon) talking directly to Michael Jordan’s parents, especially Deloris Jordan, as the series of conversations that ultimately led to the Jordans agreeing to the meeting with Nike. This isn’t entirely true. The person who initially did the most persuading (to MJ) was his Olympic coach, George Raveling (played by Marlon Wayans in the film) – a man Jordan respected. He is the one who convinced Michael to have a preliminary meeting with Sonny. Through that meeting (which Raveling also attended), the door was opened for Sonny to be part of developments. Another key player in the real-life story was David Falk (played by Chris Messina), Jordan’s agent, who, contrary to the film’s assertion that he was opposed to Nike, actually called the Jordans to ask them to consider meeting Nike, with MJ insisting that he’d take the meeting only if his parents were with him. The Falk storyline is one of the most inaccurate in the movie.
Verdict: This is false.
2. Who’s The Genius?
The Air Jordan name and brand are among the most legendary in sports, fashion and popular culture. When you think of ‘iconic sneakers’, it’s hard to think of anything except Air Jordan. Everything else feels like a pretender to the throne. So, who came up with this name? Believe it or not, it’s neither of the great designers who worked with the brand – Peter Moore or Tinker Hatfield. In the film, David Falk takes credit for coming up with it, and so does the real Mr. Falk. Interestingly, the reasons for this aren’t as complicated as one might think: “David came up with the name because Nike shoes had air in the soles and because, of course, Michael Jordan played basketball in the air.” And there we have it – Air Jordan.
Verdict: It didn’t happen exactly how it played out in Air.
1. The Impact of the Deal
Yes, there may be a whole lot that’s up for debate as far as names, dates and meetings are concerned, but the one thing from the movie that’s undisputably accurate when compared with real-life events is the enduring impact of Michael Jordan’s signing on the dotted line on the 24th of October, 1984. As depicted in the movie, the Air Jordan brand went beyond its functional purpose, becoming a cultural phenomenon and a coveted fashion statement. The partnership that MJ and his family agreed to popularized the idea of signature athlete shoes (giving athletes more of a say in their careers) and elevated sneakers to a status symbol, driving a multi-billion dollar industry obsessed with limited edition releases and exclusive collaborations. If you forget everything else from Air (which is unlikely), please remember this.
Verdict: 100% true.
RELATED: A Guide To Every Air Jordan Sneaker Release (1 to 38)
Tell us, what else from the Air movie do you think isn’t true?
Read more about things the Air movie got right and wrong on fortressofsolitude.co.za.
