Hollywood is not a thoroughfare. Professional success is not an accurate measure of your personal life and vis-a-vie. Despite winning an Academy Award for writing ‘Good Will Hunting,’ Ben Affleck‘s career was reduced to doing sub-par movies during the early 2000s. Not until he wowed people with his directorial debut ‘Gone Baby Gone.’ Years later, he has again found his footing with his latest directorial drama ‘Air‘.

With ‘Air,’ Affleck seems to have crafted an underdog story with a championship ambition—critics and the public alike are loving the movie. We know about Michael Jordan and his game-changing shoe. But perhaps what you don’t know is the story of the people who made the legendary endorsement happen.

Related: ‘Air’: Plot, Cast, And Release Date of Ben Affleck’s Nike Drama

1. Sonny Vaccaro, Played by Matt Damon

Sonny Vaccaro was the tenacious executive who brought Michael Jordan to Nike. When Vaccaro started working for Nike, it was a second-fiddle brand to Addidas and Converse. But things changed when he discovered Michael Jordan’s stardom and bankability; he cultivated a business and professional relationship that lasted for 28 years.

2. Phil Knight, Played By Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck pulls a commendable triple duty on ‘Air,‘ playing the Nike co-founder Phil Knight in addition to being the director and producer of the movie as well. After graduating with a master’s degree in business administration from Stanford in 1962, he started the company with track coach Bill Bowerman.

The film took place when the bulk of Nike’s relationships came from the sporting world of tennis and running. Under his suave leadership, Nike became the big brand we know today.

3. Rob Strasser, Played By Jason Bateman

‘Arrested Development‘ and ‘Ozark‘ star plays Nike’s director of marketing, Rob Strasser. After learning from their experience of signing tennis prodigy John McEnroe, he created a line of sportswear around the athlete. Before meeting Michael Jordan’s agent, he told his team to dedicate an unprecedented line of sports shoes and an advertising campaign around the young phenomenon.

4. David Falk, Played By Chris Messina

David Falk is a sports agent with an extensive roster of legendary clients. He was also Michael Jordan’s agent. Thanks to his friendship with Rob Strasser, Falk was instrumental in securing the signature deal between Jordan and Nike. He made sure that the reached agreement between the two Titans would give his client a big piece of the pie years later. All parties left the table happy.

In Case You Missed: Why Michael Jordan Did Not Appear In Ben Affleck’s Sports Drama’ Air’?

5. Howard White, Played by Chris Tucker

‘Rush Hour‘ star Chris Tucker plays Howard White in the movie. He turned Jordan to the idea of trading his Converse for a pair of Nikes. At the organization, he oversaw personal and business relationships with up-and-coming athletes. Howard White was present at the time of Jordan’s first championship win. He was part of the room that came up with Air Jordan.

6. George Raveling, Played By Marlon Wayans

The legend says Sonny Vaccaro convinced Jordan to come to Nike. But the man himself credits George Raveling for the decision that changed his life. Marlon Wayans plays the legendary basketball player and coach George Ravelling in a brief yet crucial appearance.

7. Peter Moore, Played By Matthew Maher

Peter Moore (played by Matthew Maher) was a top-tier graphic logo designer who worked for Nike and Addidas. A long-time collaborator with Robb Strasser, he created the initially banned Air Jordan 1 silhouette and Nike Dunk silhouette. He also designed the Air Jordan ball-and-wings logo, the Jumpman logo, and the Adidas mountain logo.

8. Deloris Jordan, Played By Viola Davis

The woman behind the man, Deloris Jordan, features in the movie instead of her son. Sonny Vaccaro credits Deloris Jordan for changing his son’s mind. She was the intermediary between the two parties, encouraging his son to go with the Nike deal. Her persistence and good business sense led to historic sports endorsement. Viola Davis was personally hand-picked by Michael Jordan for the role.

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