Who is playing Michael Jordan in the movie ‘AIR’?

AIR: The movie that hides Michael Jordan’s face


Who is playing Michael Jordan in the movie ‘AIR’?

‘Air’ is a movie directed by Ben Affleck that tells the story of how Nike signed Michael Jordan to a lucrative sneaker deal in 1984. The movie stars Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, a Nike executive who convinced Jordan to wear the Air Jordan shoes, and Affleck as Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike.

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The actor who plays Michael Jordan in the movie is Damian Young. He is a newcomer to the film industry and has only two acting credits before landing the role of Jordan. Damian Young is a newcomer to the big screen, but he has landed a role of a lifetime: playing Michael Jordan in the movie AIR. The film, directed by Ben Affleck, tells the story of how Nike signed Jordan and created the iconic Air Jordan sneakers in the 1980s. 

However, Young’s portrayal of Jordan is not conventional: his face is barely seen in the film, and he only appears in brief shots from out-of-focus angles or from behind. Affleck explained that this was a deliberate choice to avoid distracting the audience with an actor who could not match Jordan’s real-life persona. He said: “This is a movie about an icon, about somebody who is so meaningful that the minute I show you somebody and tell you, ‘Hey, that’s Michael Jordan,’ you’re just going to know it isn’t. I know what Michael Jordan is, I know what he is.

Young has only two acting credits before landing the role of Jordan: a law film called “Strictly for the Streets Vol. 2” and a short film called “Prom Night Flex”. He also appeared in Budweiser’s 2023 Super Bowl commercial. His role as Jordan marks his larger entrance into the acting world, and he had to share the screen with an all-star cast, including Affleck, Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina and Viola Davis. Davis, who plays Jordan’s mother Deloris, was one of Jordan’s demands for the film, as he said: “None of this would have ever happened without my mother.”

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Young’s performance as Jordan may be unconventional and minimal, but it is also respectful and intriguing. He captures the essence of Jordan without trying to imitate him or overshadow him. He lets the audience fill in the gaps with their own imagination and admiration for the basketball legend.

Also Read: How old was Michael Jordan when he retired? 

The Best Basketball Movies You Can Stream Right Now

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Via Complex

Basketball is a popular sport that has inspired many movies over the years. Some of these movies are based on true stories, while others are fictional or comedic. Here are some examples of movies related to basketball that you can watch:

  • The Redeem Team (2022): This documentary follows the journey of the 2008 U.S. men’s basketball team, which won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics after a disappointing performance in 2004. The film features interviews with players like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade, as well as coaches Mike Krzyzewski and Jerry Colangelo.
  • The Way Back (2020): This drama stars Ben Affleck as Jack Cunningham, a former high school basketball star who struggles with alcoholism and personal issues. He gets a chance to redeem himself when he is hired to coach his alma mater’s basketball team, which is composed of underdogs and misfits.
  • Uncle Drew (2018): This comedy features NBA legends like Kyrie Irving, Shaquille O’Neal, and Reggie Miller as elderly basketball players who team up with a young streetballer named Dax (Lil Rel Howery) to compete in a tournament at Rucker Park in Harlem. The film is based on a series of Pepsi commercials starring Irving as Uncle Drew.
  • Coach Carter (2005): This biographical film tells the story of Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson), a high school basketball coach who made headlines in 1999 when he benched his entire team for poor academic performance. The film explores the challenges and conflicts that Carter faced as he tried to instil discipline and values in his players.
  • Love & Basketball (2000): This romantic drama follows the relationship of Monica Wright (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy McCall (Omar Epps), two childhood friends who share a passion for basketball. The film spans four quarters of their lives, from high school to college to professional careers, as they deal with personal and professional obstacles.
  • Space Jam (1996): This animated/live-action hybrid features Michael Jordan as himself, who teams up with Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes characters to play a basketball game against a group of aliens who want to enslave them. The film also features appearances by other NBA stars like Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, and Patrick Ewing.

These are just some of the movies related to basketball that you can enjoy. Whether you are looking for inspiration, humor, romance, or nostalgia, there is a basketball movie for you.

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